Some believe that the Browns overpaid for quarterback Tyrod Taylor when they gave up the first pick in the third round for him, but Browns head coach Hue Jackson says that’s not the case.
“Maybe people don’t think Tyrod has performed as well as he has because he’s not talked about as an upper-echelon guy in the league, but the guy has performed really solidly over the last several years,” Jackson said (via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal). “He’s made some tremendous plays. He’s led teams to the playoffs and winning seasons. He’s stayed healthy. He hasn’t turned the ball over, and those are things coaches look for. I’m just happy we got him. I know for a fact other teams wanted him, too. I think we’re fortunate to have this guy as our starter.”
Jackson doubled-down on his confidence in Taylor earlier this offseason, saying that he will enter the season as the team’s starter and that there won’t be training-camp competition. The team is destined to pick a quarterback with either the first or fourth overall pick in the upcoming draft and traded Cody Kessler to the Jaguars earlier this week.
Here’s more from around the AFC/NFC North:
- Tight end Levine Toilolo‘s deal with the Lions is a one-year pact worth roughly $2MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
- Despite a flurry of off-the-field issues, the Bengals have stuck with linebacker Vontaze Burfict, keeping his three-year, $32,53MM extension signed last September on the books. That doesn’t mean the team hasn’t considered building around someone a little more reliable. Burfict was suspended for the first four games of next season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy and has missed 29 of 66 possible games over the last four years due to suspension. “Do we have conversations on that a lot? Sure, we have conversations on that a lot,” said Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin of cutting ties with Burfict, via Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cinncinati Enquirer. “But at the end of the day we are a player-oriented business and the players are the ones that win or lose for us. We try to collect as many players that can help us win. That’s our job.
- Southern Mississippi safety Tarvarius Moore has visits scheduled with the Browns and seven other teams over the next few weeks, per Jason Munz of the Hattiesburg American and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (on Twitter) Moore clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at Southern Miss’ pro day Thursday.
Should offer that no.4 pick for Beckham. Reunite him with Jarvis Landry. Browns have the draft capital and salary cap room.
Lowkey that would be tight
Terrible idea. Guy w off field issues, holding out for a new contract and coming off a fractured ankle. No way to #4 overall.
He’ll be fine off the injury. He is ready running and making cuts. The guy is 26 in his prime. Bone is better than a ligament injury.
Horrible idea. He will be a cancer to the team and they are way too young to deal with that. Even his college coach and WR coach with Giants was glad to move on from him due to his ongoing antics.
You don’t want Odell Beckham, Jr. to be the alpha on your team. A lot of exciting 7-9 seasons would follow, but not a championship.
Just like how they didn’t overpay when they selected Kessler in the 3rd round!
Considering Hue’s evaluation of QBs since being with the Browns I will go with the outside opinion over his.
“He hasn’t turned the ball over, and those are things coaches look for….”
Hmmm, does this mean Darnold is not under consideration?
The browns overpaid to acquire an established quarterback so that they would maybe win a game in 2018. Browns got rid of a lot of draft picks in 2018, they weren’t going to add 12 players to the roster. I think it’s a good move. He’s a FA after 2018 and will fill in admirably for one year before moving on.
Tyrod is an established qb who isn’t meant to win games but be a mentor to darnold.
Browns need a healthy veteran at qb as to not have to run out darnold too early.
Really no other qb fit the bill given the short need.
Taylor is absolutely meant to win games. He will also mentor some but The other veteran QB they picked up will be more of a mentor as Taylor’s primary job will be to practice and prepare for games as the starter.
The NFL is a “what have you done for us lately” league so the only player mentoring comes guys over 30 who know they are playing out their last career contract. All other players are too paranoid about having an ‘understudy’ take their job to get involved in something like mentoring.