Paxton Lynch

Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch performs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

(Gregory Payan)

Orchard Park, N.Y. — It turns out when Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley said the team wouldn't rule out drafting a quarterback in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, it may have been more than just lip service.

According to Sal Paolantonio of ESPN, Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman went out to dinner with Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch on Tuesday night down in Memphis.

Lynch is projected by many to be the third quarterback taken in the 2016 NFL Draft and a possible first-round pick. There's a possibility he will still be available when the Bills are picking at No. 19.

With both Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel entering the final seasons of their respective contracts, Whaley has made no secret about the fact that the Bills need to add a quarterback or two to the roster heading into the offseason. With little progress on a new contract for Taylor, the Bills might be wise to plan for the future by taking a quarterback at 19 and providing themselves with some insurance at the position.

Lynch has been compared to a taller, stronger-armed version of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith. He's 6-feet-7-inches tall and has some athleticism, but he still needs some refinement at the next level. At Memphis, Lynch got most of the play calls from the sideline, so that might be an adjustment for him at the next level.

Memphis has its pro day Wednesday, so the Bills decided to meet with Lynch the night before the workout. Call it due diligence, but the Bills have spent plenty of time looking into quarterbacks this offseason, and Lynch is among the most high profile of the prospects in whom they have shown interest.