The Athletic’s Mike Sando released his annual NFL veteran quarterback tier rankings based on voting from 50 coaches and executives in the league.
Per Sando, coaches and evaluators placed each quarterback in one of five tiers, from best (Tier 1) to worst (Tier 5).
Once ballots were collected, results were averaged to create a ranking. The unanimous Tier 1 choices averaged 1.00, while the lowest-rated player averaged 4.30. Quarterbacks fell into the tiers in which they received the most votes.
Chargers QB Tyrod Taylor was placed in Tier 4, alongside Raiders’ Marcus Mariota, Dolphins’ Ryan Fitzpatrick, Broncos’ Drew Lock, Jaguars’ Gardner Minshew, Bears’ Mitch Trubisky, Redskins’ Dwayne Haskins, Patriots’ Jarrett Stidham and Panthers’ Kyle Allen.
A Tier 4 quarterback is described as an unproven player with some upside or a veteran who is ultimately best suited as a backup.
Taylor, the 30-year old signal-caller, is slated to take over as Los Angeles’ starter after Philip Rivers had the duties of doing so for the past 14 seasons.
While Taylor may not be as superior as Rivers in a handful of categories, there are a couple of things he does better, which are limiting turnovers and having the ability to win with his legs.
“Tyrod is not going to turn the ball over, but he is not going to throw it and he does not throw it (downfield) inside the numbers, the hash, because he can’t see,” a defensive coordinator said. “His intelligence and the way he can run the ball will keep him in games, but he is not going to beat you with his arm.”
Taylor gets scrutinized because a lot because he has been unable to find a stable starting job the past few seasons. But when he was a starter with the Bills – which was also under coach Anthony Lynn for a couple of seasons – he played well.
In both 2015 and 2016 when Taylor and Lynn were on Buffalo’s squad, the 30-year old threw for over 3,000 yards and 37 combined touchdowns as opposed to just 12 interceptions. On top of that, Taylor rushed for 1,148 yards and 10 touchdowns on 199 carries in both those seasons combined.
“He smoked us in Buffalo a few years ago,” a defensive coach said. “We couldn’t tackle him. I think he’s a legit starter. They are not going to be super shitty with him in there.
It’s Taylor’s job to lose. He will likely stay under center as long as he’s leading the team to wins. If the Chargers start to fall off the wagon, then rookie Justin Herbert will take the reins. The longer Taylor starts, the more Herbert will be able to develop.