The most controversial pick of the 2020 NFL Draft class for the Bills is Jake Fromm being selected in the 5th round at 167 overall. I am going to get my opinion out there first that I absolutely LOVE the pick. However, much of Bills twitter does not understand why this pick was made, to me it is quite simple.
Josh Allen's current backup is Matt Barkley, who has one year left on his contract. The thing with Matt Barkley isn't necessarily age, it is more so his inconsistency when he has been given the chance to play. Aside from the game he went 15-25 with 232 yards and 2 TD in a 41-10 win against the Jets, he has done nothing to prove that he can come in and help the Bills win games if something happens to Josh Allen. When Josh Allen went out with a concussion in September against the Patriots, the Bills were down 16-10. The Bills were driving and eventually made it to a 1st and goal situation from the 1 yard line. Barkley didn't come through. After that, we could not manufacture a substantial drive for the rest of the game. Also, week 17 against the Jets., Matt Barkley significantly underperformed. Yeah, the weather was awful and he was playing with 2nd/3rd stringers at the skill positions but he did not do ANYTHING. The Bills could not even score a touchdown against the (at the time) 6-9 Jets. Barkley was 18-32 with 232 yards and 2 INT.
The Bills are a team that needs a backup QB that can come in and "get the job done". The Buffalo Bills debatably have a top 10 roster in the NFL. The harsh reality is that injuries happen in the NFL. Last year Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees, Big Ben, Josh Allen, Nick Foles, Sam Darnold and Carson Wentz all dealt with injuries. Injuries happen and I am a big advocate of having a serviceable backup QB. Buffalo fans should know how important this is as Jim Kelly had Frank Reich to step in behind him if anything happened. The Bills roster has potential to not only win a division, but also make a run for the Super Bowl. If Josh Allen gets injured, I still want to be able to make that run moving forward. Jake Fromm can provide that to the Bills.
In 3 years at Georgia, Jake Fromm racked up 8236 yards 78TD and 18INT with a 63.3% completion percentage. The true measure of his greatness comes with his consistency. As a true freshman Fromm took over for Jacob Eason, won his first start on the road at Notre Dame and then led them to the National Championship game. The final average AP poll ranking for the Georgia Bulldogs under Fromm, in three years total, was 4th. In his time as starter for the Bulldogs, Fromm only lost one, yes ONE SEC East game when in 2019 they lost to South Carolina. Even in this game, his came through with his back against the wall. Down 17-10 in the 4th quarter and backed up on his own 4 yard line, Fromm led a drive that tied the game up. On that drive he was 5-9 with 62 passing yards and 7 rushing yards, with a TD pass. Fromm also performed quite well in his career against opponents such as Florida and Auburn. This guy is a winner who already has a grasp on a pro style offense. Jake Fromm already played in a pro style offense and has done that since high school. Out of high school he was the #4 "pro style" QB recruit. Fromm minimizes mistakes and sticks to the offense. He has a high football IQ and has been a great leader throughout his high school and collegiate career. He is a hardworking kid that comes from a great family. He loves the game of football. According to Georgia WR Tyler Simmons, Fromm is "the most positive person I've ever met on the field". Fromm says that he "always wants to have a positive influence on people and bring them up". Jake Fromm will fit in perfectly with the culture the Buffalo Bills have created.
Bills GM Brandon Beane said that " I wouldn't have told you going into today that he was on our radar but we had him in a spot that we can't ignore. We gave him his due. This guy is a winner at the highest level of college.... This guy has all the intangibles, he's smart. When I went down to that school to watch them practice that point they didn't know if he was going to come out. they say he loves being the guy at Georgia and loves just being there and they say this guy would be in there 11,12 at night with the coaches, walking out the door the same time the offensive coaches are. Just a guy who loves everything about the game, the full process the preparation and that matters. And listen, if he had a better big time cannon arm or he was 6'5, you know those types of things, he would have gone day one. He's got all the other things"
Welcome to Buffalo, Jake Fromm!
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