Josh Allen will be the Buffalo Bills’ starting quarterback again in 2020. In due time, we’ll find out if that’s for better or for worse.
If it’s not meant to be, or in case of an injury bug, the Bills feel confident in backup Matt Barkley, Bills general manager Brandon Beane told the Buffalo News at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine this week. But Beane isn’t one to just sit on his hands, either.
While expressing his trust in Barkley, Beane also said there won’t be a stone left unturned, even if that stone resides in the team’s quarterback room.
“If there’s a guy that we thought could add competition and fit the dynamic, we wouldn’t hesitate to do it,” he said.“Not that we don’t want somebody pushing Josh, but you’ve got to make sure it’s not somebody that’s undercutting Josh’s development and what he’s doing.”
The likely scenario here seems to be that the Bills stick with Barkley. Allen has a dangerous playing style at times, but Barkley has done about as much as you can expect from a backup QB in the NFL. It’s a quarterback league, and there’s not enough to go around, so if you have one you’re OK with, why mess with it?
Behind Barkley is Davis Webb, and perhaps the Bills do bring in a battle for Barkley. Barkley is entering the final year of his contract and only has a $200,000 dead cap hit if he leaves the Bills, per Spotrac.
Really the biggest key for the Bills is off the field. There, by all accounts, Barkley is supportive of Allen. Fans love Barkley too, but the backup QB or backup goalie in hockey is always the most popular guy in Buffalo. But in Barkley, there won’t be any clamor for him to start over Allen. If a high-profile backup comes in, that narrative could change on a dime and be a problem for the Bills.
Plus, Allen has routinely touted how much he appreciates that Barkley is there to provide a veteran voice to help him out. Allen is only the start of Bills players that praise Barkley. When Barkley nearly had to start for Allen (concussion) in October of last season, players were praising the No. 2.
“That’s the type of guy he is even off the field,” said receiver John Brown. “He’s lifting guys up and cheering guys on and he’s the same way on the field.”
“He’s a lot like Josh in that way where guys naturally gravitate toward him. He does a great job of leading guys and making sure everyone is going in the right direction,” linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said.
Beane certainly has a lot to consider in regard to his backup signal caller.
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