Bills 2024 training camp: Quarterback analysis

The Buffalo Bills’ 2024 training camp begins at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, N.Y., on July 24. There are starting roles and roster spots up for grabs on a Buffalo team that saw significant turnover this spring; in this series, we’ll familiarize you with each position group on the Bills’ roster heading into camp.

We’ll start by addressing the most important position on the team: the quarterback.

Players listed: Josh Allen, Mitchell Trubisky, Shane Buechele

The Bills are fortunate to have one of the league’s best starting quarterbacks in Josh Allen. The playmaker had what some called a “down year” last season, during which he threw for over 4,800 yards and scored a league-high 44 total touchdowns. Of those 44 touchdowns, he scored 15 rushing touchdowns, which tied him with Philadelphia Eagles passer Jalen Hurts for the most touchdowns in the NFL among quarterbacks.

How — or Why –Was it considered a bad year? Well, he was second in the league in interceptions with an alarming 18. While it’s hard to quantify the value of each interception thrown, each interception represents potential points left behind.

Related: VIDEO: Bills knew they couldn’t make a huge trade in 2024 NFL Draft

Yes, the interceptions are frustrating, and when you add in the four lost fumbles, his turnovers can be downright infuriating. That being said, Allen is a top-three quarterback in the NFL by almost any measure, and he’s simply an electrifying player. His incredible arm talent, unique athleticism, and elite mentality are unmatched.

Allen’s talent is undeniable, so we’re more interested in what he’ll look like in his first full season under new offensive coordinator Joe Brady. We’ve had a small sample size of Allen under Brady; in nine games (including the playoffs) under the play-caller last season, he averaged 261.8 yards and threw for 14 touchdowns. Those stats are slightly skewed, however, because in their Week 15 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Allen only threw the ball 15 times for 95 yards due to the Bills running the ball for 268 yards.

Buffalo currently has two backup quarterbacks on its roster: Mitchell Trubisky and Shane Buechele.

Bills fans are familiar with Trubisky from his stint as a backup during the 2021 season, where he occasionally saw the field when the Bills were leading big in the fourth quarter. Trubisky, while clearly not a reliable starting quarterback, is a useful backup because he has the ability to fill in for Allen for a short period of time if Allen gets hurt. Trubisky also has a skill set adjacent to Allen’s; he can move around the pocket and has a decent arm, but he’s clearly not on the former All-Pro’s level. That said, he should be able to fill in for Allen, if needed, and keep the offense going without too many philosophical changes.

Then there’s Shane Buechele, who is entering his fourth NFL season. Buechele played college football at Texas and SMU, but has yet to play in the regular season in the NFL. He played two seasons at SMU, where he threw for 7,024 yards, 57 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions. At 6’1″, the 26-year-old is slightly undersized, but showed good anticipation at SMU, and was a willing runner when plays broke down.

Buffalo’s quarterback room is objectively one of the best in the league based solely on Allen’s presence, and its success in 2024 will depend on his performance and availability. He’s been a workhorse who’s played through bumps and bruises throughout his professional career so far, and so there’s no reason to expect an injury; that said, Trubisky seems capable of filling in for a short period of time, if necessary. Should Allen get hurt, however, Buffalo’s season could be a lost cause. To borrow—and slightly modify—a quote from Tom Moore originally uttered about Peyton Manning: “If No. 17 gets hurt, we’re f*****g. And we don’t train to be f*****g.”

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