This is a bit of a surprise, but the Bills will be keeping Tyrod Taylor after all. The team announced that the quarterback will remain in Buffalo on a restructured deal. The new deal will cover five year, and it will become a “year-to-year agreement” following the first two years, per Vic Carrucci of the Buffalo News. Taylor’s cap charge will decrease from $16MM to just under $10MM in 2017, according to Carrucci.
This offseason, the Bills held an option on Taylor worth $27.5MM option, due March 11th. That number was unpalatable for Buffalo management and Taylor’s reps were holding firm, telling the organization that it was an “all or nothing” proposition if they wanted to keep him off the open market. Ultimately, Taylor caved a bit in order to stay put.
Based on recent word out of Buffalo, it seems that top decision makers like GM Doug Whaley, senior VP of football administration Jim Overdorf, and team president Russ Brandon were against bringing Taylor back. However, new head coach Sean McDermott advocated for Taylor’s return, citing a lack of quality options in free agency.
“I’ve gotten a chance to know Tyrod and study him over the past several weeks and he is both a great person and competitor,” McDermott said today (via Carucci on Twitter). “Doug (Whaley) and I are confident this was best move for the Bills at this time.”
After spending the first four seasons of his career in Baltimore, the former ACC Player of the Year signed a three-year, $3.35MM deal with the Bills in 2015. Taylor ended up earning the starting gig in Buffalo, and he went on to make the Pro Bowl that season.
The third year of that contract was voided since Taylor ended up playing more than 50-percent of the team’s snaps in 2015. As a result, the Bills extended the quarterback for six years and $92MM. The 27-year-old ultimately completed 61.7-percent of his passes for 3,023 yards, 17 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2016. He also added another 580 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
Of course, those numbers were compiled in “only” 15 games. Taylor was inactive for the team’s season finale as the Bills looked to slide out of his 2017 guaranteed salary.
The Jets, 49ers, Browns, and Cardinals were among the team’s reportedly eying the Taylor situation.
Interesting… Shakes things up a bit maybe Cleveland is more likely to deal for Garoppolo
Or Glennon is gonna be even richer….
The New Head Coach is Crazy For Keeping Tyrod Taylor another year not making the playoffs
Joseph- trust me: Tyrod was not the reason Buffalo missed the playoffs.
He was a top 10 qb last year…
They must’ve been reading all of my comments condemning them for letting him walk lol
Great move by Bills. They reduced his 2017 cap# to less than $10 mill. Taylor was not the problem last year. With Watkins out he had garbage receivers. Get Sammy healthy and sign a good #2, and this team looks good.
Poor group of receivers and no gameplan. Tyrod Taylor is constantly scrambling it seems because the pocket unfolds and no one is open. He deserves at least one more season at the helm to prove himself.
it would be nice if the bills tried trading for Cooks to complement Sammy. And then trade back and get oj Howard for Tyrod also. No excuses then
Personally I feel that we probably should of held on to Rex as well let me ask what other NFL team has allowed their GM to pick (2) faulty # 1 over all picks that went nowhere as well as well as burn through (2) different coaches now on to coach #3 and STILL KEEP THE GM EMPLOYED NOT ONLY THAT BUT CONTINUE TO KEEP HIM IN CHARGE OF DECISIONS SMH I don’t believe the Bills well do anything until we Terminate the GM