Vince Young tumbled from budding superstar to fighting for an NFL roster spot.

One of the greatest college football players of his generation, Young was chosen No. 3 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2006 NFL Draft. He was a Pro Bowl quarterback in 2009. Three years later, he is in competition with Tyler Thigpen for the backup role with the Buffalo Bills.

“Vince Young does have a future in the NFL, but he has got to win the backup job this year,” Steve Wyche said Thursday morning on “NFL AM.” “I was speaking to Bills general manager Buddy Nix, they are only keeping two quarterbacks, and his battle is with Tyler Thigpen and he thinks it’s going to go down to the fourth (preseason) game.”

Young started three mostly forgettable games in Philadelphia last season for an injured Michael Vick. However, Young reportedly is struggling to pick up the Bills’ offense.

“His future is his past,” analyst Mark Kriegel said on the same “NFL AM” broadcast. “It’s such a steep fall that we’ve actually lost sight of it. This guy was a two-time Pro Bowler, a Rookie of the Year, he was supposed to be RG3.”

Of the 13 quarterbacks taken in the 2006 NFL Draft, only Jay Cutler is penciled in for a starting position in 2012. Fellow 2006 draftee Brad Smith is slated to be a Wildcat quarterback and emergency passer, leaving Young to battle for his NFL future.

“If Vince Young doesn’t win this job, that phone’s not ringing,” Wyche said. “It barely rang before Buffalo called.”

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