It’s not something former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron will appreciate, but the Buffalo Bills – despite signing McCarron weeks ago – have a “desperate need” at quarterback entering the 2018 NFL Draft, according to USA TODAY Sports’ Mike Jones.

It’s widely believed that the Bills will trade up to select a quarterback in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. They currently own nine picks in the draft, six of which will take place in the first three rounds. Buffalo has more than enough capital to orchestrate a trade up.

However, the Bills could look to fill their void at the quarterback position through free agency. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Buffalo could be interested in former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron. Schefter believes that McCarron could “go to Arizona, Buffalo, or Denver.”

They’ve already traded up from 21st to 12th but may not be done. They also own the 22nd overall pick and, despite signing AJ McCarron, could use it as bait to get into position for a longer-term solution.

The 27-year-old McCarron, a 2014 fifth-round pick of the Bengals, made four starts in four seasons with the team before winning a grievance to become a free agent and last month signing a two-year deal with the Bills.

McCarron unfazed by talk of Bills drafting a quarterback

Jones designates the Bengals as a team that “can’t wait much longer” for a quarterback in advance of the draft, likely adding “a project to the mix after McCarron’s departure” despite the fact that Andy Dalton has multiple years left on his contract.