Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is in the driver’s seat to being the Chargers’ starting quarterback in the upcoming season. However, all talks this offseason have still been primarily relating to what the team’s long-term plan will look like at the position.
Los Angeles was in the running for Tom Brady, there are still many that believe Cam Newton could be signed and nearly all projections have the team selecting a quarterback in the early rounds of the upcoming draft.
Despite all the people that have disregarded Taylor as a starting-caliber quarterback, he’s out to show those that’s the level that he has been at all along.
“All I can do is show ’em with the next opportunity that they shouldn’t have slept on me,” Taylor said. “I’m definitely motivated more than ever. I’m motivated because I’m able to show my teammates and my coaches what I’m capable of doing.
I’m not going out there to prove something to a fan or prove something to someone who may not like me. You’re never going to please everybody. I’m not trying to please everybody.”
This will mark the third time in Taylor’s professional career that he’s been given the keys to the starting role.
He was a three-year starter for the Bills, and then was traded to the Browns in 2018. Cleveland drafted Baker Mayfield a month later and Taylor was sidelined after suffering a concussion.
There are a handful that believe Taylor is nothing more than a backup, but he has proven himself in the starting role before.
He completed 774 of 1,236 passes (62.6 %) for 8,857 yards and 51 touchdowns to 16 interceptions while adding 14 rushing touchdowns and 1,575 yards on 283 attempts. He went on to make the Pro Bowl in 2015.
Los Angeles could elect to choose a quarterback in the first-round, indicating that 2020 will mark the final season for Taylor in the blue and gold. But that’s not going to give him disbelief in his ability as the one starting under center.
“I’m going to do whatever I can day in and day out to help our team be the best we can. To go out and win games on Sunday. I can’t tell people what they don’t know. I just know that when you tune in, I guarantee that you will have fun watching the Chargers.”