The quarterback battle for the Buffalo Bills could have a surprise winner that sends EJ Manuel and Matt Cassel to the bench. Former Baltimore Ravens backup Tyrod Taylor is garnering some attention for his play so far in Buffalo and could end up the team's starting quarterback in Week 1.
Tyrod Taylor in the mix to be starting QB for the Bills
Tyrod Taylor could end up the surprise winner of a quarterback battle with EJ Manuel and Matt Cassel.
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Taylor, 25, spent four seasons with the Ravens, but made appearances in just 14 games while sitting behind Joe Flacco during his time there and never made a start. That made him a discounted free agent that the Bills signed on a three-year, $3.35 million contract just two days after acquiring Cassel via trade from the Minnesota Vikings.
The trade for Cassel set up a presumed quarterback battle between the 2010 Pro Bowler and Buffalo's 2013 first-round pick, but Bills general manager Doug Whaley insists that both Taylor and Jeff Tuel have as good of a shot as any to win the job. On BuffaloBills.com, Whaley said that all four quarterbacks have "equal footing" and a chance to start:
“The way they’re structuring practices everyone is getting a run with the ones,” said Whaley. “So it’s a fair shake. In this system that we’re trying to figure out who is going to be the number one it’s all about competition. That’s why everybody involved is excited about it.”
With a fair shot on the line in Buffalo, Taylor actually turned down a better contract offer from the Denver Broncos to compete for the job with the Bills. Surely that can't help but improve his standing with Rex Ryan, who already may favor Taylor. According to Conor Orr of NFL.com, Ryan has "always wanted a true dual-threat quarterback to run his ground-first offense" and Taylor certainly provides that.
In April, Ryan told Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News that Taylor is "the fastest quarterback in the league" and that he attempted to trade for him while Ryan was still the head coach of the New York Jets.
Taylor was a sixth-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft after earning 2010 ACC Player of the Year honors as a senior at Virginia Tech. He tallied 2,743 passing yards and 24 touchdowns through the air in 2010 and 403 rushing yards with five touchdowns. In four NFL seasons, he has just 35 career passes and hasn't recorded a touchdown.
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