Nick Wass

9 reasons why starting Peterman makes sense

By Ryan Talbot | Contributing writer

Nathan Peterman will make his first start for the Buffalo Bills on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Buffalo's decision to bench Tyrod Taylor seems curious as the team is the sixth seed in the AFC, but it may be the right move. Here are 9 reasons why starting Peterman makes sense.

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Jeffrey T. Barnes | The Associated Press

Taylor wasn't coming back

Tyrod Taylor almost didn't return this season. The quarterback agreed to a pay cut to remain with the team, but it was apparent that the Bills were ready to move on from the quarterback if he didn't restructure his deal. Buffalo lacked options to replace Taylor going into the season, but they're ready to move on from the quarterback at the end of the year.

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Jeffrey T. Barnes

Bills can still get into the playoffs this season

Regardless of who is under center, the Bills can still get into the playoffs this season. Buffalo is one of just six teams with a winning record in the AFC. Considering the parity behind the division leaders, Buffalo should remain in the mix with Peterman at quarterback.

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Not a Super Bowl contender

If the Bills were a legitimate Super Bowl contender, Buffalo would not have switched from Taylor to Peterman. Although the team can still get into the playoffs this season, sneaking in isn't the goal for the Bills. Buffalo has the future in mind by making the move to their rookie quarterback.

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Jeffrey T. Barnes

Best time to get Peterman into the lineup

The next seven games are an audition for Nathan Peterman. Buffalo will get a chance to see how he handles himself on the road against the Chargers before more difficult matchups against the Patriots and Chiefs. The Bills also have winnable matchups down the road against the Colts and Dolphins so Peterman will get a chance to prove himself against some of the league's best and worst teams.

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Adrian Kraus

Move should get wide receivers more involved

One of the biggest knocks on Taylor is that he didn't give his wide receivers enough opportunities to catch contested passes. Instead of throwing the ball into tight windows, Taylor would opt to drop passes off to LeSean McCoy, Mike Tolbert and others. Dropping the ball off can be the right move in some situations, but Taylor did this too often. It reached its boiling point against the Saints when Taylor's longest completed throw to a receiver went for nine yards. Peterman is more likely to give Kelvin Benjamin, Jordan Matthews and Zay Jones chances to get involved.

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Jeffrey T. Barnes | The Associated Press

Peterman pro-ready and fits offense

After the 2017 draft, Todd McShay didn't hesitate to call Nathan Peterman the draft's most pro-ready quarterback in the class.

"The Nate Peterman pick jumps out right away, because they got what I believe to be the most pro-ready quarterback in this year's draft," McShay said. "Now he doesn't have the upside. (Bears quarterback Mitch) Trubisky is a better player. Deshaun Watson had a better career and brings a different skill set. Pat Mahomes has a much better upside and a much better arm, but to me, Peterman has gone through three schemes, some pro-style looks, reads and responsibilities, understanding how to make the pre-snap decisions and to set protections. He comes in the league with a lot more knowledge and experience and what you have to do to be an NFL player than a lot of these other quarterbacks. I thought that was their best value pick."

In addition to being pro ready, Peterman is a better fit for Rick Dennison's West Coast offense.

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Matthew Fairburn | mfairburn@nyup.com

Move allows Bills to evaluate Rick Dennison

Speaking of Rick Dennison, the move to Nathan Peterman will give the Bills a chance to evaluate their offensive coordinator. Dennison's offense didn't properly utilize Tyrod Taylor's skill-set and the move to Peterman should benefit the veteran coach. If Buffalo's offense struggles over the final seven weeks with Peterman, Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane may have all the evidence they need to move on from Dennison.

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Team knows no one is safe

Tyrod Taylor may be getting a bit of a raw deal, but the move to Nathan Peterman should be a wake up call for the roster. Sean McDermott proved that he won't hesitate to replace a veteran if he feels it's in the best interest of the team. Moving to Peterman may give the offense a spark and the entire roster some extra motivation to be at their best on Sunday.

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Move was important for 2018 NFL draft

The Bills have five draft picks in the first three rounds of the 2018 NFL draft. If Nathan Peterman does not play well over the final seven games of the season, Buffalo will know that they may have to package a few of these picks to move up in the first round to get a new quarterback. If Peterman plays well, Buffalo could spend their two first round picks on other needs (linebacker, offensive guard, wide receiver, defensive tackle) and address the quarterback position on day two. Peterman's play over the final seven games will help Brandon Beane determine the team's biggest needs heading into the draft.

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