Tyrod Taylor - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Notes: Smith, Tyrod, Cutler, Steelers

February 14th, 2017 at 7:39pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Already under police investigation for an alleged domestic violence incident that took place last Saturday, Raiders pass rusher Aldon Smith is now on the NFL’s radar, writes Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group. “We are looking in to the matter,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told McDonald in an email Tuesday. Smith has been serving a substance abuse suspension since November 2015 and has a chance to gain reinstatement in March, but the league could push back its decision or even hand him an indefinite ban as a result of his latest off-field issue, per McDonald.

Elsewhere in the AFC…

If the Bills move on from quarterback Tyrod Taylor, they should sign soon-to-be released Bears signal-caller Jay Cutler to replace him, opines Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com in a piece focusing on potential offseason moves in the AFC East. Tony Romo or Jimmy Garoppolo are more appealing choices, Barnwell acknowledges, but he doesn’t expect the former to sign in Buffalo (if the Cowboys cut him) or the Patriots to trade the latter within the division. If those two are unattainable, the draft could be an option, though Barnwell argues that the Bills shouldn’t reach for a QB with the 10th overall pick. That would leave Cutler as the most logical solution. Not only would he come on a short-term deal, but he’d reunite with new Bills offensive coordinator Rick Dennison. Cutler played under Dennison in Denver and has spoken highly of him in the past.
Speaking of Taylor, the Browns’ hiring of his former quarterbacks coach, David Lee, increased the passer’s odds of ending up in Cleveland, contends Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Taylor, who’s on the Browns’ “radar,” played under Lee in Buffalo the past two seasons and fared respectably in his first 29 games as a starter. The former Baltimore backup would replace Robert Griffin III, whom Cabot expects the Browns to release before his roster bonus is due March 11.
The Steelers’ contract talks with wide receiver Antonio Brown and linebacker Lawrence Timmons don’t figure to move quickly, tweets CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, who expects running back Le’Veon Bell to be their biggest priority. Unlike Brown, who has another year on his deal, both Timmons and Bell could become free agents next month. Bell is clearly the more valuable of the two, of course, and the Steelers will place the franchise tag on the runner if they’re unable to re-sign him.

Bills GM Wants QB Cardale Jones To Start?

February 10th, 2017 at 8:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bills are still working through the idea of retaining quarterback Tyrod Taylor, but general manager Doug Whaley is thought to be in favor of starting 2016 fourth-round pick Cardale Jones next season, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News.

Buffalo’s front office has been smitten with Jones for some time, as reports before last year’s draft indicated the club was “enamored” with the then-Ohio State quarterback, while Whaley & Co. were reportedly pushing for Jones to play at the tail end of last season. Jones eventually did see some action during Week 17, completing six of 11 passes for 96 yards and an interception, but the most notable thing he did during his rookie campaign was knock a phone out of a reporter’s hand during training camp with a pass that was overthrown by 20 yards.

But unless the Bills come to an agreement with Taylor, Jones may be their only option under center. The club could pursue a veteran in free agency, but most of the signal-callers on the open market are less than inspiring. One recent report claimed Buffalo has “significant” interest in Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, but Carucci shoots down that notion, observing that Romo likely will target a team with a clearer path to contention.

Meanwhile, while Taylor is not open to accepting a paycut in order to remain with the Bills, a “very real possibility” exists that Taylor would be amenable to some sort of contract restructure that lowers his 2017 cap charge but doesn’t amount to a pay reduction, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Of course, a restructure that doesn’t involve a paycut is essentially a cosmetic change that often allows a player to receive money even earlier, so theoretically any player should be receptive to such a move.

Latest On Tyrod Taylor

February 10th, 2017 at 1:21pm CST by Zachary Links

Tyrod Taylor says that he wants to stay in Buffalo, but he won’t restructure his deal in order to facilitate a reunion. Taylor is unwilling to take a pay cut before reaching the open market, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News hears.

Agent Adisa Bakari firmly believes that Taylor will at least match his scheduled contract and possibly exceed it on the open market. If the Bills keep Taylor, they’ll have to pay him a guaranteed $30.75MM. Despite his ups and downs in 2016, Taylor’s rep believes that a better contract awaits him in March. In his defense, there are several clubs with major question marks at quarterback and this year’s so-so crop of draft QBs should only help Taylor’s value.

The Browns are said to have Taylor on their radar if they cannot land Jimmy Garoppolo in a trade with the Patriots. The Jets and 49ers also face major uncertainty at QB and Taylor could be of interest to them. And, despite some rocky games last year, Taylor did rank as Pro Football Focus’ No. 11 QB on the year thanks to his strong 87.5 score for running.

In my book, it would be foolish of Taylor to accept a reworked deal from the Bills at this time. At minimum, if he is secretly willing to accept less, he should wait until the March 11 deadline draws closer before settling.

Bills QB Tyrod Taylor On Browns’ “Radar”

February 8th, 2017 at 2:33pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo remains the Browns’ No. 1 choice at quarterback, but the club has backup plans in case the price for Garoppolo is too steep. Cleveland will have Bills signal-caller Tyrod Taylor on their “radar” if he’s released by Buffalo, reports Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

The Bills have until March 11 to make a decision on Taylor: the club holds a $15.5MM option bonus on its quarterback that would lock in $30.75MM in total guarantees. The club is expected to release Taylor before that decision is due, but the hiring of new head coach Sean McDermott and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison could change that view. While Buffalo’s front office is said to be in favor of cutting Taylor, McDermott’s view on Taylor is an unknown, as Vic Carrucci of the Buffalo News writes, while Dennison’s arrival is thought to be a positive for Taylor given that the pair has a prior working relationship.

Meanwhile, the Browns have been linked to a number of quarterback options this offseason, and are likely to pursue a new signal-caller through the draft, free agency, or via trade. Cleveland now has at least one connection to Taylor, as the club today hired former Bills quarterbacks coach David Lee to the same role. Lee, who worked with Taylor during the past two seasons, will presumably offer Browns head coach Hue Jackson a fresh opinion on Taylor.

Cleveland won’t be the only club to express free agent interest in Taylor, who’s averaged roughly 3,000 yards passing, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions during his two campaigns as a starter. The Cardinals are also expected to pursue Taylor if he hits the open market, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com recently reported.

East Notes: Galette, Tyrod, Patriots, Jets

February 4th, 2017 at 3:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Junior Galette seems confident he will be back in Washington in 2017, but Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter link) clarifies the pass-rusher’s standing. Since the Redskins placed Galette on the NFI list after his torn Achilles last summer, the Redskins still retain his rights, Jones reports. However, the sides are planning to rework his deal, per Jones.

Galette re-signed in Washington on a one-year deal worth $4MM in March of 2016. Spending the season on the NFI list meant Galette did not accrue a season toward free agency, so he remains on his previous Redskins contract. Washington did not place Galette on its NFI list in 2015 since Galette suffered the injury during training camp. He has not played for the Redskins despite signing two deals, but the former Saints edge threat said earlier this week a new contract is in the works. Set to turn 29 in March, Galette will have to rebuild his stock.

Here’s more from the Eastern divisions.

Tyrod Taylor wants to stay with the Bills, the quarterback said during Super Bowl week radio interview on WGR 550 (via Nick Shook of NFL.com) but acknowledges it’s a “sitting and waiting” game now. Having signed a deal that becomes a long-term commitment if he’s still on the Bills’ roster by March 11, Taylor wanting to stay in Buffalo is natural. This offseason, the run-based quarterback’s status has shuffled from being likely gone to a candidate to stay after the hire of Taylor fan Rick Dennison as OC. Doug Whaley indicated his sports hernia injury won’t have any bearing on whether or not he stays. Of course, Taylor not being able to pass a physical by March 11 would ensure it.
Rob Gronkowski wants to play at least six more years, which is where the tight end places fellow Patriots icon Tom Brady‘s timeline at as well. “I don’t really think about it. Every single day I’m with Brady, and he’s talking about how he’s going to play six more years,” Gronkowski told the crowd (via Phil Perry of NESN.com). “So, like, in my mind, how can I stop playing before Brady? I came into the league like 50 years after him. I plan on playing as long as I possibly can.” This gels with a previous Brady proclamation his goal is to play until he’s 45. Brady will be 40 next season, his 18th in the league should he return. The 27-year-old Gronkowski is under contract for three more years but has become a major injury risk.
A Tony Romo-to-Denver scenario could leave a team like the Jets as a landing spot for 2016 starter Trevor Siemian, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes. However, due to Siemian’s rookie deal, Cimini notes the Broncos would have the leverage in a trade discussion, and he doesn’t see the Jets giving up a second-rounder for the once-surprising starter. Cimini also notes the Jets had a middle-round grade on Paxton Lynch, adding the Broncos — who obviously held the Memphis product in higher regard — aren’t going to trade him no matter what happens with Romo. The Jets have only Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg under contract for 2017.

Cards Eyeing Deshaun Watson, Tyrod Taylor

February 2nd, 2017 at 7:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cardinals are “very high” on Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and are willing to trade up in the draft in order to select him, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. If Arizona fails to land Watson, the club could instead target Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who’s expected to hit the free agent market.

Arizona, of course, already has an incumbent signal-caller in Carson Palmer, but he’s reportedly considering retirement and the Cardinals are unsure if he plans to play in 2017. Given that wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald announced that he’ll play at least one more season in the desert, Palmer may be more apt to return, too, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who adds that Palmer and Fitzgerald are “tied at the hip.”

Watson could still make sense for the Cardinals even if Palmer does continue his career, as the latter is now 37 years old and nearing the end of his NFL run. Long projected as a first-round pick, Watson has a chance to be selected within the top-10, and may not get past the Browns at pick No. 12. Arizona sits one pick later at No. 13, and could need to move up in order to find its long-term franchise quarterback, an area of focus I pointed to when assessing the Cardinals’ top offseason needs.

Taylor, on the other hand, probably isn’t a fit for Arizona unless Palmer hangs up his cleats, as Taylor is unlikely to accept an offer to become a backup quarterback. Buffalo is expected to decline an option on Taylor that would guarantee him north of $30MM, and instead allow him to reach the open market. Over the past two seasons, Taylor has completed 62.6% of his passes while averaging 18 touchdowns and six interceptions per year, adding more than 1,000 yards on the ground during that span.

Bills Interested In Tony Romo

February 2nd, 2017 at 5:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bills have “significant” interest in Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, although Buffalo is still eyeing a future with incumbent QB Tyrod Taylor, albeit on a cheaper contract than the his current option-based deal, which would guarantee him north of $30MM.

Romo, meanwhile, unsurprisingly prefers to land with a contending team, and it’s not clear that he views the Bills in such a light. Instead, Romo’s list of favored destinations includes the Broncos, Texans, Cardinals, and Chiefs, per La Canfora. Denver has been tossed out as a suitor for Romo before, but the general manager John Elway & Co. are reportedly more likely to target Romo as a free agent than as an acquirable asset. Houston, too, doesn’t appear to be in the running, as the Texans are more likely to draft a quarterback than pursue a veteran option.

Barriers block a potential path between Romo and Arizona/Kansas City, as well. Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer has reportedly been contemplating retirement, but the chances of his return could be buoyed by wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald‘s announcement that he’ll continue his career in 2017. The Chiefs, meanwhile, have Alex Smith under contract for the next two seasons, but could theoretically release him with a post-June 1 designation, and take on dead money charges of $3.6MM in 2017 and 2018.

Romo, hypothetically, would be a solid fit in new Buffalo offensive coordinator Rick Dennsion‘s scheme, which utilizes many of the same zone-blocking concepts deployed by the Cowboys. The Bills ranked first in rushing DVOA last season but just 19th in passing DVOA.

AFC Notes: Chiefs, Bills, Dolphins, Jets

January 26th, 2017 at 10:21am CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Chiefs managed to keep star safety Eric Berry off the free agent market when they placed the franchise tag on him last offseason. Berry is once again unsigned as free agency approaches this winter, but the six-year Chief prefers to remain in Kansas City. “I hope so,” he informed Adam Teicher of ESPN.com on Wednesday. Berry’s also under the impression his representative and the team have opened contract talks, telling Teichner, “I think my agent had a conversation yesterday or something. It’s early.”

With defensive tackle Dontari Poe a strong candidate to end up with the franchise tag this offseason, the Chiefs might not have that as a fallback option to retain Berry in 2017. Not being able to tag Berry would perhaps hinder the Chiefs’ chances of keeping the 27-year-old, as the two sides never came close to reaching a long-term agreement last summer. Despite some displeasure with the fact that Kansas City tagged him last year, Berry went on to rack up his fifth Pro Bowl nod. In his second straight 16-game season, Berry amassed 77 tackles and a career-high-tying four interceptions.

Staff Notes: Bills, Saints, Jags, Broncos, Jets

January 20th, 2017 at 3:17pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Bills’ hiring of offensive coordinator Rick Dennison on Thursday is “very good news” for quarterback Tyrod Taylor, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com said Friday on NFL Network (via Kevin Patra of NFL.com). While it previously appeared Taylor was on the outs in Buffalo, which faces a March 11 deadline to retain him for a guaranteed $30.75MM, it would “make no sense” for the team to change QBs after landing Dennison, per Rapoport. Dennison worked as Taylor’s position coach with the Ravens in 2014 and then served as the O-coordinator in Denver, which made a push to sign Taylor in free agency before he headed to the Bills in March 2015. With Dennison now in Buffalo, Rapoport expects the Bills to continue with Taylor, though he notes that they could first restructure his contract.

More coaching-related updates:

Ex-49ers head coach Jim Tomsula interviewed for the Saints’ open defensive line coach job earlier this week, multiple sources told Sporting News’ Alex Marvez. Tomsula was only at the helm in San Francisco for one year, a five-win 2015, but he was a successful D-line coach with the franchise from 2007-14.
Former Jaguars great Keenan McCardell will interview to become their wide receivers coach, according to Hays Carlyon of 1010XL. McCardell most recently coached the Redskins’ receivers from 2014-15, but he’s best known for his illustrious career as an NFL wideout from 1992-2007. Most of McCardell’s success came in Jacksonville, where he hauled in 499 passes and 30 touchdowns between 1996-2001. All told, McCardell combined for 883 catches and 63 scores with five teams.
The Broncos are set to name Geep Chryst their tight ends coach, reports Marvez (Twitter link). Chryst is familiar with Denver’s offensive coordinator, Mike McCoy, as the two were together in Carolina from 2006-08. His highest-profile work came as San Francisco’s offensive coordinator in 2015 (under the aforementioned Tomsula).
The Jets have hired Robert Nunn as their defensive line coach, tweets Marvez. Nunn previously held the same position in Cleveland, which fired him Tuesday.
The Bills have tabbed Andrew Dees as their assistant offensive line coach, writes Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk. Dees also handled that role with the Bills in 2012 before serving on the Chargers’ staff from 2013-15. In his second stint in Buffalo, he’ll work under newly hired O-line coach Juan Castillo.
Dees is replacing Tony Sparano Jr., whom the Jaguars have hired as their assistant O-line coach, relays Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter link).

Bills Intend To Move On From Tyrod Taylor

January 6th, 2017 at 9:37am CST by Zachary Links

No surprise here, but the Bills are getting ready to bring the Tyrod Taylor era to a close. The Bills will not pick up the $15.5MM option bonus in his contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes.

Buffalo has until March 11 to exercise the clause, but it sounds like their minds are already made up. Picking up the option would guarantee Taylor $30.75MM over the life of the contract and tie him to Buffalo for the next five seasons. Buffalo, as expected, is unwilling to make that commitment.

The Bills made their feelings for Taylor crystal clear when they benched him in the season finale. Had Taylor taken the field and gotten seriously injured, Buffalo would have been stuck with his multi-year deal. Keeping him off the field also gave the team a chance to take another look at EJ Manuel, a favorite of GM Doug Whaley.

Still, as we learned this week, there is one scenario in which the Bills could still be stuck with Taylor’s hefty contract.