Tyrod Taylor has had an outstanding NFL journey — one many NFL talent evaluators thought he would never have.
Tyrod Taylor’s Career Thus Far
Taylor was considered one of the best players in high school when he graduated from Hampton High, stayed close to home, and chose to take his talents to Virginia Tech.
Taylor progressed as a player with every season, capping off his collegiate career by taking Virginia Tech to the ACC Championship. Taylor would receive numerous honors during his senior season, including ACC Player of the Year and ACC Championship Game Most Valuable Player.
Due to his size limitations, listed at 6’0″ tall, many NFL teams bypassed the talented signal-caller. Eventually, the Baltimore Ravens took a chance on Taylor, selecting him in the sixth round with the 180th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens drafted and developed Taylor, but for the most part, he was a backup during his Baltimore tenure. Taylor was Joe Flacco’s No. 2 and played when Flacco rested.
Buffalo Bills
In the spring of 2015, Taylor signed a three-year, $3.35 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. Taylor was named the starting QB following a battle with EJ Manuel and Matt Cassel.
Taylor exceeded expectations during his first year in Buffalo, earning a Pro Bowl nomination. He led the Bills to an 8-8 record, solidifying his role as the starter moving forward.
Taylor outperformed his contract, and the Bills rewarded him with a six-year, $92 million extension. The contract came with an option following the first year. Following the season, Taylor was named a Pro Bowl alternate.
The Bills fired head coach Rex Ryan before the 2017 season, and many thought Taylor would be cut as well. Taylor and the team worked to restructure his contract, and he remained the Bills’ starting QB.
The Bills attempted to bench him in favor of rookie Nathan Peterman, who threw five interceptions during his only start. Buffalo turned back to Taylor, who then led them to the playoffs.
Cleveland Browns
In the spring of 2018, the Bills traded Taylor to the Cleveland Browns for a third-round draft pick. Cleveland drafted Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, ensuring Taylor would be a stopgap option for the franchise.
Taylor was named the starting QB for the Browns and started the first three games of the NFL season. Unfortunately for Taylor, he was injured in the third contest, and Mayfield took over.
Mayfield remained the starting QB for the Browns for the remainder of the season.
Los Angeles Chargers
In the spring of 2019, Taylor signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. In Los Angeles, Taylor reunited with former offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn.
Taylor was brought in to backup starting QB Philip Rivers. Following the 2019 season, Rivers left for the Indianapolis Colts, and Taylor was named the starting QB for the Chargers entering the 2020 season.
The Chargers selected QB Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The selection of Herbert made it clear that Taylor was viewed as a stopgap option yet again.
During the pregame warmups before facing the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2, Taylor suffered a rib injury. After receiving medical treatment, Taylor was hospitalized.
Days later, the Chargers medical staff revealed they had punctured his lung while administering a painkiller before the game. The rest, as they say, is history. Herbert started the game and never looked back, eventually being declared the starting QB for the remainder of the 2020 season.
Houston Texans
In the spring of 2021, Taylor signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans, who had a new head coach in David Culley. Culley and Taylor had worked together previously during their time with the Bills in 2017, so there was some familiarity there.
Taylor was thrust into the spotlight as he was named the Texans starting QB following the legal troubles surrounding Deshaun Watson. Taylor had an unremarkable tenure with the Texans, filled with various injuries and an eventual benching for QB Davis Mills.
2021 was Taylor’s first and final season with the Texans.
New York Giants
In the spring of 2022, Taylor signed a two-year contract worth $11 million with the New York Giants. The G-Men brought Taylor in to provide a veteran presence behind starting QB Daniel Jones.
