When it comes to quarterbacks, the Bills did due diligence at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine, meeting with Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford.

But by most indications, new GM Buddy Nix and coach Chan Gailey are inclined to let one of the three current quarterbacks on the roster emerge as their 2010 starter while other areas of urgent need are addressed.

With the crop of free agent quarterbacks thin as usual (free agency opened March 5) and the draft set for April 22-24 (Buffalo picks No. 9 overall), Gailey said the Bills are keeping all of their options open.

Option No. 1 is continuing to evaluate incumbents Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trent Edwards and Brian Brohm.

"Every team in this league that doesn't have an All-Pro quarterback or somebody that got votes for All-Pro is looking to improve that position, " Gailey said. "So we'll evaluate (our) guys and continue to evaluate them. And we'll evaluate what's available. If we can improve our situation, we'll try to improve it."

Two veteran quarterbacks who are restricted free agents and whose names have been linked to Buffalo -- Washington's Jason Campbell and Denver's Kyle Orton -- were extended tender offers by their clubs at the first-round level. It's impossible to fathom that the Bills would give up a first-rounder for either.

St. Louis veteran Marc Bulger was expected to be released and available.

As for spending the ninth overall pick on Clausen or Bradford, the two highest-rated QBs in the draft class, that also seems unlikely at this point. That's if Clausen and Bradford were still on the board at No. 9 given the quarterback needs of St. Louis, Washington and Seattle, teams that select before Buffalo.

Buffalo also has pressing needs at offensive tackle (after Brad Butler's retirement), wide receiver (after letting Terrell Owens and Josh Reed walk as free agents) and defensive line (after deciding to convert from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4).

Of Buffalo's three incumbent quarterbacks, Edwards has the best shot of resurrecting his career. He was the team's starter for two seasons, posting a 12-11 record and 65.5 completion percentage before suffering a second career concussion in Week 6 last year and eventually losing the job to Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick went 5-5 overall. Brohm, meanwhile, is a former second-round pick of the Green Bay Packers who has upside.

Nix is on record as saying all three "have got talent" and that it's difficult to play the position throwing "from laying on your back" a clear knock on Buffalo's disastrous offensive line planning.

When asked about Brohm being a good "fit" for his offense, Gailey said everybody is a good fit for him because he crafts a scheme around the athlete he has.

"I don't try to fit guys into what I do, I fit what we do into the best players we have," said Gailey, who has won with the likes of Hall of Famers like John Elway and Troy Aikman and journeyman like Jay Fiedler.

"If Brian Brohm is the best player, and you asked about him specifically, if he's the best we'll adapt and adjust to what he does best. I think that's what you have to do in this league."

In the latter rounds of the draft, the Bills are expected to take a quarterback to groom and add to the competition.

Candidates include Texas Colt McCoy, Florida's Tim Tebow, Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour and Cincinnati's Tony Pike.

Copyright (C) 2010 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.