Thread: Broncos reportedly could be top landing spot for Tyrod Taylor

Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post reported on Friday that many are pegging the Broncos as the top landing spot for the Buffalo Bills quarterback if he is released or traded, as expected. Jhabvala also notes Taylor’s connection with Broncos executive Gary Kubiak, who was previously the former Pro Bowler’s offensive coordinator on the Baltimore Ravens.

Denver’s QB play was atrocious last season — their trio under center of Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, and Brock Osweiler always seemed to be injured, totally inept, or some combination of both. As for Taylor, he endured a rough year in Buffalo where he put up his career-worst numbers as a starter and was briefly benched for Nathan Peterman before his season came to a painful end.

Taylor, 28, will be owed a $10 million base salary for 2018 and a $6 million roster bonus due in March. But in any case, he probably has at least the raw talent to make a short-term difference for the Broncos after their 5-11 2017.

I don't see this as anything but speculation, but I post it for what it is worth.

In this scenario, Denver would be starting Tyrod Taylor and eschewing trying to land Kirk Cousins for $30m, and then drafting a QB with their top 5 draft pick and developing that guy. Taylor would start until the guy is ready.

They would pay him less than $20m potentially, which is pretty low QB money these days. And he wouldn't be guaranteed a long term starting job. But, he could compete and could wind up starting for the next 2 years if he's able to fend off the rookie, the way that Trevor beat off the feeble efforts of Paxton to be the starter.

I'd say this is a high risk strategy in that it might backfire horribly, but it would cost a lot less. If Elway were committed to saving money on his QB, then he might go in this direction, and forget about paying over $20m a year to Cousins or Bridgewater or AJ McCarron - or in some Bizarro Universe where the Chefs were willing to let Alex Smith come to Denver, Alex Smith.

On the other hand, Taylor would be another example of "Overachieving 7th round QB" and you have to question his limitations. I see this as a "meh" move. Neither horrible, like Sam Bradford, nor great, like Cousins.

Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield.

Championship.

Seems like a lot of money to pay Taylor.

Originally Posted by Shazam!

Seems like a lot of money to pay Taylor.

Sam Bradford is getting $18m. I'd rather have Taylor. Any starting NFL QB is going to get around $20m now if he doesn't totally suck. If he does suck, then he should be a backup and get nothing like $15m.

Not in favor of this plan.

Hopefully this is just a rumor.

I definitely wouldn't look at Taylor as a long term solution, but as a couple year stop gap along with trying to develop a young guy? Maybe. I would rather have Alex Smith than Taylor, but I will say that Taylor doesn't throw many INTs, which is good.

I think it has to be Cousins, and probably pick an OL with the first pick, possibly dominant defender, or something like a Smith/Taylor and draft a QB in the top 5.

Any of the routes above could be successful or a complete failure, unfortunately.

Originally Posted by Tned

I definitely wouldn't look at Taylor as a long term solution, but as a couple year stop gap along with trying to develop a young guy? Maybe. I would rather have Alex Smith than Taylor, but I will say that Taylor doesn't throw many INTs, which is good.

I think it has to be Cousins, and probably pick an OL with the first pick, possibly dominant defender, or something like a Smith/Taylor and draft a QB in the top 5.

Any of the routes above could be successful or a complete failure, unfortunately.

Well, with Taylor as a couple years' stopgap, that could put a competent QB in place while
they found out what they already have in Lynch and Kelly, neither whom they honestly
still know little about, and/or go ahead and roll the dice for a QB in the draft. It would seem
to me that what they really need is a veteran to keep the ship afloat while the youngsters
duke it out behind him? Just a thought . . .

Originally Posted by topscribe

Well, with Taylor as a couple years' stopgap, that could put a competent QB in place while
they found out what they already have in Lynch and Kelly, neither whom they honestly
still know little about, and/or go ahead and roll the dice for a QB in the draft. It would seem
to me that what they really need is a veteran to keep the ship afloat while the youngsters
duke it out behind him? Just a thought . . .

The only reason to get Tyrod Taylor is if they draft a rookie and need a bridge QB until that rookie is ready to start. No way they just roll with Taylor and Paxton and Kelly because Paxton and Kelly are pure unknowns, and not very probable unknowns either. Paxton has been handed the job on a silver platter twice and dropped it. He might not even be on the roster next year since two coaching regimes both looked at him and don't want any part of him. Now Kubiak is in charge of the Broncos scouting efforts, and he's not a big fan of Paxton.

Kelly has never been in an NFL practice due to injury, so he's a complete cipher.

He's a very good bridge QB if you're going to spend the 5th pick on a young gun. Taylor brings mobility and he's one of the best QB's in the league at not turning the ball over. Denver has won the last 33 games that they won the turnover battle in. This D is good enough to beat any team when Denver wins the +/- battle. I wouldn't be surprised if the Broncos target him if they fall in love with a QB at the senior bowl.

Originally Posted by chazoe60

Not in favor of this plan.

I’m not either, but he’s better than anyone we have, and at least he takes care of the ball. We probably would have won 10 games this last year if we had him

I, for one, am looking forward to the carousel of other losing teams' castoffs coming in over the next few years. Starting with Taylor seems a fine cog in that spinning horsey machine.

Originally Posted by wayninja

I, for one, am looking forward to the carousel of other losing teams' castoffs coming in over the next few years. Starting with Taylor seems a fine cog in that spinning horsey machine.

The bills were a playoff team this year...

Originally Posted by wayninja

I, for one, am looking forward to the carousel of other losing teams' castoffs coming in over the next few years. Starting with Taylor seems a fine cog in that spinning horsey machine.

I guess it seems like as good of a place as any to start our own version of this.

I'd rather have cousins, but Taylor isn't a bad plan B. He's leaps and bounds better than anything we have now.