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The Buffalo Bills added a viable starting option to their quarterback roster Saturday night by reaching a contract agreement with free-agent Kevin Kolb. As Buffalo News staffer Mark Gaughan reports, the deal is expected to be worth a maximum value of about $13 million, which makes Kolb the clear favorite over incumbent seven-year veteran Tarvaris Jackson in the Bills’ QB competition. Jackson signed a one-year deal last month.

The Bills still are expected to take a quarterback in the NFL Draft and give the rookie a chance to win the starting job.

Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, is reporting the deal contains a minimal downside if the Bills opt not to keep Kolb on the roster for 2013. And that’s creating the impression that, if the Bills draft a quarterback, Kolb and Jackson will be battling for the same roster spot — whether it’s the starter as the rookie develops or the No. 2 guy behind the first-year player.

As Florio puts it, the "winner-take-all" battle will likely go by the wayside if the Bills don’t draft a rookie quarterback whom they believe will become a franchise quarterback.

Florio added: "Like other teams picking in the top 10, the Bills seem to be putting their fallback plan in place before they find out whether they’ll get in the draft a guy who could become a franchise quarterback. ..."

Meanwhile, as Gaughan points out, Kolb’s physical talent and arm strength are comparable to that of former Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Kolb is 9-12 as an NFL starter and has had some good moments on the field. He helped the Arizona Cardinals to a 4-0 start last season.

However, injuries have defined his career thus far. He played in only six games last season, getting knocked out for the year in Arizona’s Oct. 14 loss to Buffalo due to detached ribs and a sprained shoulder. Kolb suffered a serious concussion that caused him to miss the last three games of the 2011 season. He missed two games in the 2010 season due to a concussion, as well.

Kolb was released by the Cardinals earlier this month under circumstances similar to those that prompted Fitzpatrick’s departure from the Bills. Kolb was cut loose just before Arizona was due to pay him a $2 million bonus.

Overall, Kolb played in just 15 games with the Cardinals over two years, going 255 of 436 for 3,124 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Playing behind a porous offensive line, he was sacked 57 times.

Jackson, who turns 30 in three weeks, owns a 17-17 record as a starter. Jackson was acquired by the Bills last August for a seventh-round draft pick. However, Jackson spent the entire season as the No. 3 QB in former head coach Chan Gailey’s offense. Jackson was re-signed by the Bills to a one-year contract in February.

The Bills also have 24-year-old Aaron Corp on the roster. Corp spent last year’s training camp with the Bills.