Cardale

Jones

Coach Pep Hamilton’s squad is headlined by QB Cardale Jones, RB Donnel Pumphrey, RB Jhurell Pressley, RB Nick Brossette, WR Rashad Ross, WR Eli Rogers, WR Simmie Cobbs, former NFL first-round S Matt Elam, and 29-year-old former third-rounder DE Sam Montgomery. Ross absolutely tore up the AAF last winter before signing with the Panthers but failing to make the team out of training camp.

Jones never took a regular season snap with the Chargers. The former National Champion continued to flash some upside in preseason action thanks to his live arm and plus mobility, but he was ultimately out played by fifth-round pick Easton Stick. Philip Rivers has started 208 consecutive regular season games since taking over for Drew Brees in 2006.

Buscaglia observed “inaccuracy and uncomfortability” from Jones during spring practices, and it sounds like Jones was too far behind Manuel to make up significant ground in training camp. Buscaglia predicts Jones will spend his rookie season “redshirting” as a healthy scratch on game days.

Buffalo now has its entire draft class under contract. Jones is extremely raw after starting just 11 games at Ohio State, but he brings a tantalizing blend of size, athleticism, and arm strength. He will be the No. 3 quarterback this year, but he has the tools to develop into a long-term starter.

Per WKBW’s Joe Buscaglia, Jones “isn’t trusting what he’s seeing” and “the game still has to slow down for him.” The Bills have known from day one that Jones would be a project, so early struggles shouldn’t come as a surprise. Jones should improve with more reps, but he’s going to ride the bench as a rookie.

He also logged 34 yards on four carries including a 12-yard scramble on fourth-and-10 late in the fourth quarter. “12 Gauge” completed 3-of-8 passes for 66 yards on the Bills’ final drive, including a four-yard touchdown strike to Jarrett Boykin as time expired. Jones remains a major project but his first taste of preseason action was a success. He’ll open the year as Buffalo’s No. 3 quarterback behind Tyrod Taylor and E.J. Manuel.

“That would mean something terrible happened,” Whaley said. The GM was noncommittal on Tyrod Taylor’s future with the team, but the reality is the Bills do not have any other options. Jones is a fourth-round project who struggled with inaccuracy in camp, and there is zero chance the Bills will feel comfortable handing him the keys next season. With backup E.J. Manuel headed to free agency, Jones could serve as the No. 2 next year.

While Jones may be an “option,” he isn’t a very good one. A massive project coming out of Ohio State, Jones attempted just 11 passes as a rookie and was dreadful on 59 preseason attempts, completing just 49.2 percent of them. Starting Jones would be an admission of defeat right out of the gates.

The fourth-round pick out of Ohio State attempted just 11 passes as a rookie. Jones is a major project, but with Buffalo on the fence about Tyrod Taylor, Jones is an alternative they may have to consider. Taking a quarterback 10th overall would probably be a reach, while the free agent market is even more sparse. In the end, the Bills may decide that Taylor is their best option.

Unless there’s an injury, we’d guess it’s a near-lock Jones is cut. Tyrod Taylor is the starter, T.J. Yates is OC Rick Dennison’s guy as the backup, and rookie Nathan Peterman was drafted by the new regime. Jones is ex-GM Doug Whaley’s guy, and on top of that has been terrible in spring practices. Jones has mouthwatering size and arm strength but remains a major project/long shot.