PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Google search 'Doug Whaley' and 'Buffalo Bills' and you won't have to scroll long to find 'EJ Manuel'. Whaley had a cautionary tale for outgoing Steelers GM Kevin Colbert during his weekly segment on The Fan Morning Show Wednesday.
"If you believe in the guy," Whaley said on 93.7 The Fan. "You love him, take him, but don't force it just because you need a quarterback."
Whaley speaks from experience. You can point to one of the reasons he was eventually fired as Bills GM; reaching for a quarterback. Fans blamed him 'as the guy who drafted EJ Manuel in the first round'.
Manuel was coming off a Florida State senior season where he threw for 3,397 yards with 23 touchdowns and he rushed for another four TD. In four years with the Bills, Manuel would only throw 19 touchdown passes with 15 interceptions and a 77.5 rating. He would rush for 324 yards over those four seasons with four scores.
It was not the impact Buffalo fans were looking for and Whaley took the heat. The truth was Whaley wasn't the general manager when the pick happened. Buddy Nix was the retiring boss and Whaley, at that point the assistant general manager, only took over after the draft. Nix wanted to leave with a bang.
"When I got the job, his thing was before I leave I'm going to get Buffalo a quarterback," Whaley told 93.7 The Fan Wednesday as to what Nix said. "He was going to retire, so he was forcing the pick because he wanted to leave them with a quarterback."
Oh, he left them with one. Nix originally wanted to take Manuel with the seventh overall pick, but Whaley said he convinced him to trade back and then selected him 16th overall and also added two picks.
"Ultimately, EJ, if he's a second or third round pick, he's probably still in the league as a backup," Whaley said. "But because he wanted to leave Buffalo with a quarterback and we have to get this guy."
Colbert will retire after this draft, he wants to leave the team in a good place. Neither he, nor Mike Tomlin, have committed to taking a quarterback. However, both were in person at their favorite college QB workouts. Of the 30 official NFL Draft visits permitted in Pittsburgh, six of them were quarterbacks.
Just don't reach.
"You don't have to force the issue," Whaley said. "Even with a Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett, you are going to need a team around him. If you don't truly believe in this guy and the value where you have to take him. Take a player where that value is correct and you are excited. There is nothing wrong with taking a good player, no matter the position because you are in the business of collecting talent."
Three other players from that 2013 Bills draft class are still playing in the NFL, another was the NFL Rookie Defensive Player of the Year. What is remembered was that was the year the Bills reached for a quarterback.
"Don't force it," Whaley reiterated with Colin Dunlap and Chris Mack on 93.7 The Fan. "If you believe in the information that got you there and your process take him. Just don't take him because you think you need him. Those same people that are saying you need to get Pickett. You need to get Wilson."
"Three years from now if they aren't good, they'll be saying you all need to be fired."
By 'you all' he means it may not be remembered that the outgoing GM made the call, rather whoever is next.
