Buffalo Bills: Should they draft Garrett Grayson?

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The NFL draft is less than a month away and with most of the major free agents off the market, the focus now shifts towards the draft.

The Buffalo Bills have been very busy this offseason, to say the least. They have added many new pieces to the team, mainly on the offensive side of the ball. At the quarterback position, Buffalo traded for Matt Cassel and signed Tyrod Taylor via free agency.

Sep 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel (16) against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of a game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

It has been rumored over the past week that the Bills may look to take a quarterback with their second-round pick. With Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota long off the board by then, the Bills will still have some options when it comes to the 50th selection. If they target a quarterback, they will most likely be looking at players among the likes of Bryce Petty, Brett Hundley and Garrett Grayson. If the Bills are truly looking to take a quarterback, they should take a serious look at Grayson.

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Grayson spent the past four years playing for the Colorado State Rams, where he was the full-time starter the last two seasons. In 2013, he threw for 3,696 yards, 23 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions. He also had an impressive 62.1 completion percentage. After accumulating solid numbers in his third season, Grayson was able to top them in his fourth season.

In 2014, Grayson threw for 4,006 yards and a whopping 32 touchdown passes to just seven interceptions. His completion percentage again improved (64.3 percent). At 6’2” and 215 pounds, Grayson possesses solid size to be an NFL quarterback. With an abundance of success over the past two seasons, it’s hard to imagine him slipping outside of the second round.

What’s most impressive about Grayson’s game is his vision and ability to read defenses. He is a very smart quarterback, and can distribute the ball anywhere on the field in a timely and effective manner. When it comes to avoiding pressure, Grayson has very good footwork, and the ability to throw on the run, which will be a huge asset at the NFL level.

Although he must still improve his accuracy with the deep ball, Grayson is very accurate on the short to intermediate routes. He can get rid of the ball very quickly and has incredible touch on the ball. One can only imagine the damage Grayson could do with a talented wide receiving group the Bills have in Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, and Percy Harvin.

The Buffalo Bills have an emerging wide receiving duo in Sammy Watkins (14) and Robert Woods (10). Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

If the Bills were to draft Grayson, they will most likely have him sit on the bench and develop him for a year or two. Despite lots of success at the college level, Grayson is not ready to be a starter at the next level. Learning under a veteran like Cassel for a year or two may really benefit the young signal-caller. If Grayson can get more comfortable under center and continue to develop his game, there is a chance that he can be a viable starter in the NFL.

It is yet to be seen what the Bills will do with the 50th overall pick. They may elect to take an offensive lineman, or maybe a linebacker; however, all indications point to them taking a quarterback. The Bills have not had a legitimate starting quarterback for years, so it would be wise to take a shot on Grayson. Although he won’t be the immediate saviour of the franchise, he could pay major dividends down the road.

Next: Buffalo Bills: Sammy Watkins's Top 5 2014 Performances

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