Tyrod Taylor has become a bit of a lightning rod in recent weeks. Because of the recent loss to the Dolphins, with Shady and the run game relatively stagnant the focus was more on the signal caller. As a result of this, I’m going to explore the road that many bring up in post-game calls or analysis: getting another quarterback.
While I believe the system the Bills want to run and the team Rex wants to have must feature a QB like Tyrod, I’m going to look at options available outside of the draft. We’ll begin this series with trades for quarterbacks that are in situations on their current team where their status as a starter is tenuous, either because of their status as a “strong backup” or as a capable starter usurped by a younger option.
Trade Option 1: Jay Cutler
2015 Stats: 15 games played, 3,659 yards passing, 64.4% accuracy (311/483 attempts), 21 touchdowns/11 interceptions/8 fumbles (5 lost).
2016 Stats: 2 games played, 373 yards passing, 60.9% accuracy (28/46 attempts), 1 touchdown/2 interceptions/3 fumbles (2 lost).
2017 Cap Hit: 15 million.
The Skinny: According to Yahoo, Bears coach John Fox says he’s “done” with Cutler after the season. Couple that with the fact that Jay has no guaranteed money from 2017 on and you have a recipe for a trade. Jay has everything physically you look for in a quarterback – strong arm, mobile enough and able to stay in the pocket. Cutler in the Bills offense would be able to threaten the entire field and give Sammy a quarterback with a pedigree he has not seen thus far in his short career as an NFL wideout.
However, Jay Cutler is a turnover machine. For all of his stats, that is the most glaring. Cutler has averaged 13 interceptions and 8 fumbles a year, losing 4 of them the past 3 years prior to 2016. Can a Rex Ryan defense handle a turnover prone quarterback?
Sure, take a look at the 20 int Sanchez years. But would he want a quarterback who is also known more for sour-puss cigarette memes than actually leading his teams? That’s a question only the brass at One Bills Drive can answer.
Trade Option 2: Jimmy Garoppolo
2015 Stats: 5 games played, 6 yards passing, 25% accuracy (1/4 attempts), 0 touchdowns/0 interceptions/0 fumbles.
2016 Stats: 3 games played, 496 yards passing, 70% accuracy (42/60 attempts), 4 touchdowns/0 interceptions/2 fumbles (1 lost).
2017 Cap Hit: 895k.
The Skinny: This one is probably the toughest of the bunch to evaluate. Because of Jimmy’s injury in replacement of Tom Brady we have a partial picture, which would be far more than they had of Tyrod Taylor coming out of Baltimore. You’re essentially buying hope that the games he played prior to his injury are a sign that he is mature and ready enough to lead a team on his own.
I would be the most bullish on this trade and the gentleman following him, but the biggest issue will be compensation: What will the Patriots want to not only trade him, but to do so to a rival in division? If he pans out, they’re giving the Bills the very quarterback that could replace Brady and not miss a beat, ala the Colts and the Manning to Luck transfer.
Due to those facts, I would assume the Patriots would want at least a first rounder for him. Would Buffalo do it?
Trade Option 3: Tony Romo
2015 Stats: 4 games played, 884 yards passing, 68.6% accuracy (83/121 attempts), 5 touchdowns/7 interceptions/1 fumble (1 lost).
2016 Stats: No games played this season.
2017 Cap Hit: 14 million.
The Skinny: A quarterback with the storied career and pelts on the wall that Romo has – as well as the criticisms – typically wouldn’t be available. However, 2 back injuries, 2 collarbone injuries and the emergence of Dak Prescott in his absence may lead Tony into the same veteran backup role Drew Bledsoe inhabited as Romo emerged. The 36-year-old has 3 years left on his contract after 2016, with nothing guaranteed – which would allow the Bills to get out of the contract should Romo prove to be a further health liability. Compensation wise, I would guess a mid round pick would be enough to prevent a QB controversy and allow the Cowboys in the years beyond to have additional cap room to build around Prescott, should he continue to develop.
A trade of this nature would provide Buffalo with a name quarterback that has averaged 4,000 yards, 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The problem would be the last two years where he has played a combined 4 games to date, behind one of the best lines in the NFL. Buffalo’s current line is built to “allow” a more mobile quarterback like Taylor to make up for the deficiencies in protection. Would they be able to keep Romo upright long enough to make a difference?
I won’t even entertain the “is he clutch” question with Romo, as a lot of that had to do with inferior defenses and depending entirely on him – but that may be a situation Buffalo fans would want, should he come there.
Trade Option 4: Teddy Bridgewater
2015 Stats: 16 games played, 3,231 yards passing, 65.3% accuracy (292/447 attempts), 14 touchdowns/9 interceptions/8 fumbles (3 lost).
2016 Stats: No games played this season.
2017 Cap Hit: 1.354 million.
The Skinny: With Bridgewater’s recovery being a question, this one is more up in the air than most. Should he recover, you have a younger quarterback that has had success running the Vikings’ offense and someone that’s more in a drop back mold than Tyrod. However, because of that knee injury you’re asking a lot in year one from someone on a new team and in rehab. Would the Bills be willing to jettison Tyrod on the off chance that Teddy recovers enough to be effective in 2017?
Trade Option 5: Nick Foles
2015 Stats: 11 games played, 2,052 yards passing, 56.4% accuracy (190/337 attempts), 7 touchdowns/10 interceptions/5 fumbles (2 lost).
2016 Stats: No games played this season.
2017 Cap Hit: 10.4 million.
The Skinny: Nick Foles’ ascent to starter, then foil to Mike Vick, then starter again and now backup on the Chiefs is eerily reminiscent of former Bills (and Eagles) quarterback Kevin Kolb. Andy Reid’s magic wand has been quite effective over the years making backups and developmental quarterbacks look like all-world players (for a time) in his offense. Outside of it? Not so much.
A move for Foles would be one of total faith that he will fit the system Anthony Lynn would like to install this offseason and do so better than Taylor. This would also be the riskiest option of the group, as the former Ram has a one year, 10.4 million salary remaining on his deal. For the Chiefs ostensibly it’s a mechanism to either extend, cut or re-structure. For the Bills it would buy a year to see if he’s the “guy” and put them in the same situation they were in with Tyrod prior to his extension.
There is also the spectre of health/availability hanging over Foles: in his magical 27 touchdown, 2 interception 2013 season with the Eagles he played in 13 games, which has been the high water mark of his 5 year career.
So there are all the viable trade options to me currently. Did I miss anyone? Drop a comment or let me know on Twitter (@rdotdeuce)!
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