Buffalo Bills: Matt Cassel makes the most sense

When it comes to the Buffalo Bills, optimism is high heading into the upcoming season. With a new head coach in Rex Ryan, the franchise is hoping that he’s the catalyst in turning this franchise around once and for all and back into the NFL Playoffs once again. With his defensive mind and a stout defense at his command, the Bills have what it takes on paper to truly be a surprise contender in the AFC East. Only problem is, what do they do with their quarterback situation?

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At the current moment, the Bills have EJ Manuel, Tyrod Taylor, Matt Simms and Matt Cassel on their depth chart at quarterback. It’s safe to say they will probably go with three quarterbacks heading into the upcoming season with the most likely to be cut being Simms.

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Taylor has shown glimpses of being a speedy dual-threat kind of quarterback but continues to be inconsistent with his passing and decisions on the football field. Manuel on the other hand has experience as a starter but is nowhere near the kind of quarterback the Bills need to really push the envelope in 2015. Manuel is mediocre at best in the grand scheme of things.

It truly makes most sense for the Bills to ditch the idea that Manuel will somehow emerge as a quality and consistent starter in 2015 in favor of someone else. He’s been struggling so far during training camp to the point that Ryan is hinting that Cassel will more than likely start the first week of preseason football when the Bills go up against the Carolina Panthers.

In an article written by Mike Rodak of ESPN, here is what Cassel had to say when he first heard the news of his potential start of the preseason:

"“That’s news to me,” Cassel said. “I hope I play the whole game, to be honest with you. I honestly would embrace the chance to start and go there and play a little bit and get into a rhythm.”"

Out of all the quarterbacks working hard to secure spots on the final roster of the Bills, not a single one has really stepped up and proved why they are ahead of the pack. When it all comes down to it, Cassel would definitely give the best chances for the Bills to win plenty of football games under center. Ryan and company most likely believe that he’s turning into what they need to succeed which is why he’s been getting more reps with the first-team starters than the rest in training camp.

The Bills don’t really need an extraordinary quarterback to get the job done but one that knows how to take control on offense and execute well. With a solid ground-and-pound rushing attack being their main offensive weapon, Cassel is more than capable of handing off the football and making smart passes in the heat of the moment.

Jul 31, 2015; Pittsford, NY, USA; (left to right) Buffalo Bills quarterbacks Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel, Tyrod Taylor and Matt Simms drop back to throw a pass during training camp at St. John Fisher College. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

If the Bills truly want to put themselves in a position to succeed and even possibly contend against the usual AFC East and current Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, they need to stop playing games in thinking that Manuel can miraculously turn into a top quarterback seemingly overnight.

The truth of the matter is Manual is nowhere near that and is more than likely on the way out of Buffalo if Cassel can prove during the opportunities given to him in preseason football that he’s leaps and bounds the best choice to move forward with. Quite honestly, based on everything so far this off season, he truly is.

Next: Buffalo Bills: 5 Most Important Players In 2015

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