It seems now, more than ever, that the NFL is a quarterback-driven league. As recent history proves, teams will do whatever it takes to acquire the signal-caller of their dreams.
That said, here's some in-depth information on the quarterbacks for the Buffalo Bills' opponents in 2018.
*Baltimore Ravens*
Projected starting QB: Joe Flacco.
In 2017, Flacco started all 16 games for the Ravens and threw for 3,141 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. The highlight of his career was being crowned Super Bowl XLVII champion.
Last performance against the Bills: Flacco last faced the Bills on Sept. 11, 2016. In that game, he completed 22-of-33 passes, threw for 258 yards, one TD, and no INTs in a 13-7 victory in Baltimore.
Additions made in 2018:* *On Wednesday afternoon, the Ravens agreed to a one-year deal with QB Robert Griffin III.
Reported draft plans: Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network had the Ravens selecting QB Baker Mayfield with the No. 16 pick. This is what he had to say in 'Jeremiah mock 2.0: Broncos, Ravens among 5 to take QB.'
The Ravens should be in rebuild mode and that starts with a new signal-caller. Mayfield can sit behind Joe Flacco until he's ready to take over.
*Chicago Bears *
Projected starting QB: Mitchell Trubisky.
In 2017, Trubisky started in 12 games during his rookie season and passed for 2,193 yards, seven TDs, and seven INTs. The Bears believe Trubisky is their long-term answer behind center, as they traded up to second overall in the 2017 NFL Draft to select him.
Last performance against the Bills: In Trubisky's rookie campaign, he never took the field against the Bills. However, that will change in 2018 when Chicago travels to Orchard Park for a regular season matchup.
Additions made in 2018:Chicago's made two QB additions this offseason. First, they signed Chase Daniel to a two-year contract on Mar. 14, 2018. Two days later, they signed QB Tyler Bray to a one-year deal.
Reported draft plans: As stated above, the Bears think Trubisky is their man at QB. Most mocks have Chicago selecting an offensive lineman or wide receiver to aid their 23-year-old signal-caller.
*Detroit Lions*
Projected starting QB: Matthew Stafford.
Stafford had a solid season in 2017, recording 4,446 passing yards, 29 TDs, and 10 INTs. The 6-2, 230-pound QB's lone Pro Bowl bid came in 2014, as he guided the Lions to the playoffs with an 11-5 record.
Last performance against the Bills: Stafford last suited up against the Bills on Oct. 5, 2014. On that fall afternoon, he completed 18-of-31 passes for 231 yards with one TD and one pick in a 17-14 loss to Buffalo at Ford Field.
Additions made in 2018:Former Bills quarterback Matt Cassel agreed to sign with the Lions on Wednesday, April 4. Cassel spent the past two seasons with Tennessee and also made stops in Dallas, Minnesota, Kansas City and New England in his career.
Reported draft plans: At 30-years-old, Stafford hasn't shown signs of slowing down, posting 4,200-plus passing yards in seven-straight seasons (2011-2017). With pick No. 20, a lot of analysts have Detroit going running back, defensive end, or defensive tackle, according to the Lions mock draft watch.
*Green Bay Packers *
Projected starting QB: Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers only played in seven games in 2017, as a broken collarbone in week six plagued most of his season. In those handful of games, he completed over 64 percent of his passes, threw for 1,675 yards, had 16 TDs, and six INTs.
Rodgers' résumé in the NFL is impressive, as he's a six-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, two-time MVP, and a Super Bowl champion.
Last performance against the Bills: On Dec. 14, 2014, Rodgers completed just over 40-percent of his passes for 185 yards with no TDs and two INTs in a 21-13 loss to the Bills.
Additions made in 2018: The Packers picked up QB DeShone Kizer in a trade with the Browns on Mar. 15, 2018.
Reported draft plans: Rodgers' isn't getting any younger at 34 years old, but he's been overwhelmingly productive for nearly 10 years. With the No. 14 pick, a bunch of experts believe Green Bay will draft a defensive player, an area the Packers struggled in a season ago.
*Houston Texans *
Projected starting QB: Deshaun Watson.
In seven games (six starts) during the 2017 season, Watson threw for 1,699 yards, 19 TDs, and eight INTs. On the ground, he added 36 rushes for 269 yards and two TDs. Watson was having a Rookie of the Year-like season, until a torn ACL in early November halted his first year in the NFL.
Last performance against the Bills: Watson never laced up against the Bills during his seven games played last season. Though, he'll welcome Buffalo to NRG Stadium in 2018 for some regular season action.
Additions made in 2018: The Texans added a veteran QB to their room, signing Brandon Weeden on Mar. 29, 2018.
Reported draft plans: Barring a trade, Houston won't pick until the third-round in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Texans sent their 2018 first-rounder to Cleveland to move up for Watson. So, a signal-caller isn't in their plans.
*Indianapolis Colts *
Projected starting QB: Andrew Luck.
Luck didn't play a single snap in 2017 after experiencing pain in his shoulder after an offseason surgery. Since being the Colts first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, he's been selected to three Pro Bowls.
Last performance against the Bills: Luck last faced the Bills in week one of 2015 and lost 27-14 in Orchard Park. In that season opener, he had 243 passing yards, two TDs, and two INTs.
Reported draft plans: Luck still seems to be in Indianapolis' long-term plans. After trading down to the sixth overall pick, the consensus is that they'll take defensive end Bradley Chubb if he's still on the board. They're also desperate for a running back, and Saquon Barkley would be a dream come true if he fell outside the top-five.
*Jacksonville Jaguars*
Projected starting QB: Blake Bortles.
In 2017, Bortles started all 16 games in the regular season for the third-straight year and tossed 3,687 yards, 21 TDs, and 13 INTs. After getting Jacksonville to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, the Jags gave Bortles a three-year, $54 million deal, tying him up through the 2020 season.
Last performance against the Bills:Bortles battled the Bills in the 2018 AFC Wild Card game in January. In Jacksonville's narrow victory, he completed 12-of-23 passes for 87 yards with one TD and no picks. He also added 10 carries for 88 yards.
Additions made in 2018: The Jaguars acquired QB Cody Kessler from the Browns in exchange for a 2019 conditional seventh-round draft selection.
Reported draft plans: Even though Bortles is signed through 2020, some believe they could still bring in a QB prospect.
On Apr. 3, 2018, Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News posted 'NFL Mock Draft 2018: Bills, Jaguars land right QBs.' For the Jags, Iyer thinks the right signal-caller is Lamar Jackson from Louisville. Here's what he had to say about Jackson to the Jags.
You can' spell Jacksonville without Jackson *— not in this mock draft, at least. The Jaguars extended Blake Bortles, but even with the notable investment, he's signed through only 2020. Unless Jackson lands with an offense catered to his running ability in which he could start as a rookie, he will be best off in a developmental situation like this. *
*Los Angeles Chargers*
Projected starting QB:Philip Rivers.
Rivers had a Pro Bowl season in 2017 posting 4,515 passing yards, 28 TDs, and 10 INTs. In Rivers' 14-year career in the NFL, he's been a Pro Bowl selection seven times. He's also made nine playoff starts, recording a 4-5 mark in postseason action.
Last performance against the Bills: The Bills and Chargers faced off in Week 11 of the 2017 season. In that contest, Rivers recorded 251 passing yards, two TDs, and no INTs in 54-24 victory in Los Angeles.
Additions made in 2018: The Bolts brought in QB Geno Smith on a one-year deal on Tuesday.
Reported draft plans: Although Rivers is 36 years old, the Chargers Mock Draft Tracker doesn't have the team taking a QB with the No. 17 pick. The consensus is that they'll take a defensive tackle, offensive tackle, or linebacker.
*Miami Dolphins*
Projected starting QB: Ryan Tannehill.
Tannehill didn't take the field in 2017 after suffering a torn ACL about a month before the regular season. Prior to his season-ending injury, he started in all 77 games played during his first five seasons. In those games, he recorded 18,455 passing yards, 106 TDs, and 66 INTs.
Last performance against the Bills: On Oct. 23, 2016, Tannehill and the Dolphins barely beat the Bills by a score of 28-25. In that game, he passed for 204 yards with a TD and no picks.
Additions made in 2018: The Dolphins signed QB Brock Osweiler on Mar. 26, 2018.
Reported draft plans: Charley Casserly of NFL.com has the Dolphins drafting QB Baker Mayfield in his recent mock. This is what Casserly had to say in his Mock draft 2.0 that posted on Tuesday.
*With the division-rival Jets and Bills picking quarterbacks in the top five, Miami keeps pace by adding Mayfield. *
*Minnesota Vikings*
Projected starting QB: Kirk Cousins.
In 2017 with the Redskins, Cousins accounted for 4,093 passing yards, 27 TDs, and 13 INTs. Following that campaign, the Vikings signed Cousins to a three-year, $84 million contract.
One of Cousins' career highlights was earning his first Pro Bowl bod in 2016, as he completed 67 percent of his passes for 4,917 yards with 25 TDs and 12 interceptions.
Last performance against the Bills: Cousins couldn't be stopped in his last game against the Bills on Dec. 20, 2015. He completed 22-of-28 passes, threw for 319 yards, with four TDs, and no INTs in 35 – 25 win. Cousins also chalked up a rushing TD in that game.
Additions made in 2018: Cousins signed his historic contract on Mar. 15, 2018. A few days after that signing, the Vikings also acquired QB Trevor Siemian.
Reported draft plans:After addressing the QB position in a big way, they can direct their attention elsewhere in this year's draft. With the No. 30 pick, there's a strong sentiment that the Vikings will select an offensive lineman to protect their new luxurious signal-caller. Although, in the Vikings Mock Madness 3.0 it showed some experts projecting a cornerback, defensive end, or running back.
*New England Patriots*
Projected starting QB: Tom Brady.
In 2017, Brady earned his third MVP award, throwing for 4,577 yards, 32 TDs, and eight INTs. The amount of accomplishments Brady's accumulated in 18 seasons is absurd. He's been a 13-time Pro Bowl selection, five-time Super Bowl champion, three-time All-Pro, three-time MVP, and two-time AP Offensive Player of the Year.
Last performance against the Bills:Brady last played Buffalo in Week 16 of the 2017 season on Christmas Eve. In a 37-16 win, he threw for 224 yards, two TDs, and had a pass picked off by Jordan Poyer that he returned 19 yards for a touchdown.
Reported draft plans: In the Patriots Mock Draft Tracker, a popular pick among the experts is a cornerback, defensive tackle, or offensive tackle.
On Tuesday, the Pats traded Brandin Cooks to the Rams and picked up an additional first-round pick. Following the deal, Casserly updated his recent mock to 'Mock draft 2.0: Patriots pick OT, CB after Cooks.'
*New York Jets *
Projected starting QB: Josh McCown.
In 2017, McCown started 13 games before suffering a season-ending injury and threw for 2,926 yards, 18 TDs, and nine INTs. McCown matched his previous mark in most games started (13) and went on to post career highs in yards (2,926) and TDs (18).
Although the Jets signed QB Teddy Bridgewater, McCown was guaranteed the starting job before inking a deal, according to Pro Football Talk.
Last performance against the Bills: McCown matched up against the Bills in early November last season on Thursday Night Football. He ended up completing 14-of-20 passes for 140 yards and a TD in a 34-21 victory in the Meadowlands. He also managed to add a score by rushing the ball.
Additions made in 2018: Four days after re-signing McCown, the Jets brought in Bridgewater on a one-year, $6 million deal.
Reported draft plans: In the Jets Mock Draft Roundup, many analysts believe the team will draft a QB after trading for the third overall pick. Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, and Josh Rosen are among the names on that list.
*Tennessee Titans *
Projected starting QB: Marcus Mariota.
Mariota started 15 games in 2017 and completed 62 percent of his passes, threw for 3,232 yards, with 13 TDs, and 15 INTs. It was an underwhelming season statistically for Mariota. However, he still got the Titans to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Last performance against the Bills: Mariota's lone meeting against the Bills came in his fourth-career game in 2015. He wound up going 21-for-32 passing, with 187 yards, no TDs, and an INT in a 14-13 loss to Buffalo.
Reported draft plans: In the Titans recent mock roundup, analysts have the team drafting a defensive end, linebacker, or offensive lineman.
