Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher was honest in his assessment to NFL teams that former Seminoles star EJ Manuel had limitations as an NFL quarterback prospect before the 2013 NFL Draft, according to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Buffalo Bills selected Manuel with the 16th overall pick in 2013 and he has started 14 games, but was benched this week in favor of veteran Kyle Orton. While Fisher was very positive in his assessment of Manuel’s personality and work ethic, the coach said Manuel would have faced competition from Jameis Winston had he returned for his senior season.

Winston, a redshirt freshman at the time, went on to win the Heisman Trophy while leading FSU to a national championship.

Manuel is 6-8 as a starter for the Bills, and CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora reported that he was benched in part because he has routinely thrown Bills receivers into dangerous situations. Manuel has also been criticised for a perception that he doesn’t take full responsibility for his lack of progress.

Manuel ranks 28th in the NFL with 6.4 yards per pass attempt and 28th with a 58 percent completion rate.