The Houston Texans wanted to get the best backup quarterback in the NFL, which is why they signed Tyrod Taylor in free agency.
Most knew Taylor would be filling in for three-time Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson rather immediately as he continued his holdout with the organization amid a trade request, which later morphed into an ongoing civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault against 22 women. Now that the former 2015 Pro Bowler is the man atop the depth chart at quarterback, the Texans have a quarterback coach David Culley says has led by example throughout his career.
“As a quarterback, you always want that guy to be the first guy in and the last guy out,” Culley told Houston media on a Zoom call after organized team activities on Thursday. “He’s that guy. He’s been that guy his whole career.”
The Baltimore Ravens gave Taylor his entry into the NFL when they selected him as a sixth-round pick from Virginia Tech in 2011. After four seasons with the AFC North club, Taylor was the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills from 2015-17, leading the Bills to their first playoff appearance since 1999. After Buffalo drafted Josh Allen in Round 1 of the 2018 NFL draft, Taylor kept the seat warm for three games in 2018 for the Cleveland Browns until rookie Baker Mayfield took over. From 2019-20, he was Philip Rivers’ backup with the Los Angeles Chargers and then started Week 1 before an injury forced him out and inserted Justin Herbert into the lineup.
“He was that guy when he was in Baltimore as a backup,” Culley said. “He always worked like he was the starter. When he became the starter, there was nothing any different. He’s a leader, he’s a winner and he is exactly what you want taking snaps from the center and leading your football team.”
The Texans have two other quarterbacks on the roster in third-round rookie Davis Mills and former San Francisco 49ers 2016 sixth-round pick, Jeff Driskel.