The Buffalo Bills traded down from the No. 8 spot to No. 16, looking for a quarterback. Most people expected them to go with Syracuse's Ryan Nassib, but the Bills surprised everyone by selecting Florida State's E.J. Manuel. Manuel is the first quarterback off the board, taken before Nassib, Geno Smith and Matt Barkley.
2013 NFL Draft results: ‘Time will tell’ with E.J. Manuel
The Bills pulled off the most shocking draft pick of the first round. How are fans reacting?
Al Bello
Naturally, it’s going to be a divisive pick among fans. Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings takes a more reasoned approach, though he’s just as stunned as everyone:
Manuel's arrival in Buffalo could be good news for Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson, the two veteran signal callers fighting for a starting job. Buffalo is betting that its new coaching staff can work out the kinks in Manuel's game and help him realize as much of his immense potential as possible, but penciling him in as a starter is a huge stretch.
This, by the way, is the first time in franchise history that the Bills have selected a quarterback with their first pick in a draft. Time will tell if the new regime and their hand-picked quarterback can lead the Bills out of the abyss and, for starters, end the franchise's 13-year run without a playoff berth. Until then, let these five words marinate in your brain... "E.J. Manuel: Bills franchise quarterback."
Manuel has a lot of upside, but is also one of the most raw prospects in this year’s draft. At the moment, he’s expected to sit and learn his rookie year while Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson compete for the starting job.
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