Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor has found a new home in the NFL. On Monday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Taylor is signing with the Green Bay Packers.
Taylor played three seasons with the Bills from 2015 to 2017, appearing in 44 games and starting 43 of them. He threw for 8,857 yards and 51 touchdowns, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl in 2015.
The 36-year-old quarterback played a pivotal role for the Bills during the 2017 season, helping the team secure a playoff spot. However, Taylor’s time in Buffalo ended after that season, when the Bills selected Josh Allen in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and the rest is history.
Taylor has been in the NFL for 15 years. Before joining the Bills, he played four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. After his time in Buffalo, he continued his career with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Giants, as well as the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans.
Taylor Wanted to Be The Bills’ Long-Term QB
After the 2016 season, Taylor expressed his desire to be the Bills’ long-term solution.
“Of course I want to be the long-term guy,” Taylor said, via Fox Sports Cameron DaSilva. “I love playing for the organization, I love playing for the coaches, I love being around the guys. Like I said, I want to be the long-term guy for them. Ultimately that’s up to them. I know I’m under contract for another year, but right now I’m out here just taking it all in.”
The Bills allowed Taylor to secure the starting job long term, but he never quite seemed capable of fully embracing the role.
Although Taylor was never a long-term starter for any NFL team, he has always been a true professional and a valuable veteran presence in the locker room. The Packers are set to gain a solid backup to support Jordan Love.
The Packers Needed Another Backup QB to Help Love
Green Bay needed to ensure it had another veteran backup quarterback on its roster before the season kicked off, and adding Taylor was a great move for the Packers.
The Packers were unable to re-sign their backup quarterback, Malik Willis, this offseason, and they had no chance of doing so after he signed a three-year contract worth $67.5 million with the Miami Dolphins to become their starting quarterback.
Willis threw for 422 yards and three touchdowns last season in limited action, but the traits he showcased over the past few years, whenever he did get into games, were one of the main reasons he was able to sign a big-time contract this offseason.
The Bills will have an opportunity to see Willis up close this season as they face the Dolphins twice. Miami is likely to be one of the worst teams in the league this year, but keeping up with Willis could prove challenging given his emerging talent. The Bills have struggled against the Dolphins at times the last few years, so it will be interesting to see how Buffalo performs against Miami this season.
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