Tag: Tyrod Taylor

Contract details for backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor

Tyrod Taylor is set to count just $2.8 million against the cap in 2024.

The Jets needed to come away from free agency with a veteran backup quarterback. They didn’t have to look very far, just to the other side of the town. New York signed for Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Contract details were shared by Dan Duggan of The Athletic. The deal is for two years and $12 million with $8.5 million guaranteed and a $4 million signing bonus. There are also $6 million tied into incentives, which would bring the total value of the contract to $18 million.

The Jets also added three void years to spread the signing bonus out. That amounts to just $800,000 per season. Taylor will count just $2.8 million against the salary cap in 2024 and $6.8 million in 2025. He’ll leave $2.4 million in dead money in 2026.

For comparison, Zach Wilson’s cap hit was $9.5 million in 2023 thanks to his signing bonus cap charge and his roster bonus.

A good deal at a spot the Jets desperately needed an answer at. They count afford another season like last year where they neglected the position and it cost them big time. Now they at least have a reasonable fallback option.

Jets agree to terms with Giants QB Tyrod Taylor

The New York Jets have agreed to terms with former New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

The New York Jets agreed to terms with former New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor late on Monday night.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was the first to report the news.

Taylor will backup Aaron Rodgers for the Jets next season and he provides Gang Green with a serviceable No. 2 quarterback.

With Daniel Jones’ injury history as he works back from a torn ACL, Big Blue is likely to look for a more durable backup as Taylor has also been injury-prone throughout his career.

Time will tell if general manager Joe Schoen is comfortable with Tommy Devito as the backup or if the Giants elect to bring in a veteran.

Whoever ends up being the Giants’ No. 2 quarterback may start the season if Jones isn’t ready to go come Week 1.

Of course, there is also a chance that a rookie quarterback will be on the roster by the time the 2024 NFL draft is over.

The Giants, of course, signed Taylor before the 2022 season and he barely played during that season. However, with Jones dealing with injuries, Taylor proved he could still play in the league and clearly the Jets saw value in having him back up Rodgers.

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Jets hope to have answer at backup QB, signing Tyrod Taylor

The backup quarterback role was a big hold for the Jets to fill and they checked that box by signing veteran Tyrod Taylor.

After how the 2023 season unfolded, finding a capable backup quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers was pretty high up on the New York Jets offseason to-do list.

Late on the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period, the Jets did that, signing Tyrod Taylor to what is a reported two-year deal, according to Josina Anderson.

With the New York Giants last season, Taylor completed 64.4 percent of his 180 passes at 7.5 yards per attempt with five touchdowns to three interceptions.

“It means everything to me,” said Taylor about getting the opportunity to start. “I mean, the work that you put in week in and week out.

“I’ve been playing this game for a long time and anytime I get a chance to lace up the cleats and go out and compete means the world to me. That’s where I’m the happiest, and it’s what I love to do, to be able to go out and not only show your peers but prove to yourself what you could do.”

Taylor has shown a willingness to push the ball downfield, ranking third in 2023 out of all quarterbacks in downfield pass attempt rate–or throws of 20 or more yards. Taylor has also been pretty good at protecting the ball during his career, with a turnover-worthy throw rate of 2.2 percent. For some context, that figure in 2023 would have ranked as the sixth-lowest among quarterbacks.

For his career, Taylor has completed 61 percent of his throws at 6.9 yards per catch with 65 touchdowns to 30 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 2,274 yards, including two consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2016, with over 500 yards each year.

Taylor has been in the NFL since 2011 and played for six different teams. For three seasons with Buffalo from 2015 to 2017, he was the Bills’ regular starting quarterback.

“My focus day in and day out was to prepare and stay ready for if my number was called to be out there, to be able to go out and execute at a high level,” Taylor said last season.

“As a quarterback, you are literally one play away. Your preparation shouldn’t change, your attitude shouldn’t change. The quarterback is the leader, whether they want to be or not, so a lot of people look towards us during down times to see how we respond. When everything’s up, everyone’s happy, but in down times you look towards your leaders to see how you respond.”

For the Jets, the obvious hope is that Taylor doesn’t have to take any regular season snaps unless he’s going in for mop-up duty with New York up by a few scores.

However, Rodgers is entering his age 41 season and is coming off an Achilles injury, while the offensive line is currently being reshaped.

Last season, it was a cavalier approach to the backup quarterback position that forced them to continually go back to Zach Wilson while intermittently hoping that Trevor Siemian or Tim Boyle would give them a spark.

Combined, the three quarterbacks would complete 59 percent of their throws with 11 touchdowns to 15 interceptions at 5.2 yards per attempt. For more context, Carolina’s Bryce Young ranked last in yards per attempt in 2023, averaging 5.6 yards per throw.

With Brett Rypien and Trevor Semian free agents and Zach Wilson expected to be traded, Taylor and Rodgers will be the only quarterbacks on the roster for the time being. With the Jets having six Day 3 picks in the upcoming draft, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them add a developmental prospect at the quarterback position.

Commanders should sit Drake Maye for a least a year

If the Commanders draft Drake Maye, should he sit for one season?

Thursday, Logan Paulsen said he strongly feels the Commanders should draft North Carolina QB Drake Maye if they keep the second overall selection in April’s NFL draft.

Should the Commanders start Maye at quarterback in 2024?

If not, would they start Sam Howell? Or might they start another veteran?

Friday, on the “Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky offered his thoughts on Drake Maye starting in 2024.

“I think Drake Maye has to get the Jordan Love treatment. You have to sit Drake Maye for at least a year or two. Orlovsky recalled Tar Heel coach Mack Brown telling him, “Mechanically, Maye is so raw.”

Orlovsky continued, “If you sit him for at least a year, you have a chance to have a really good player. But you can’t play him early.”

Both Orlovsky and The Team 980 show host Craig Hoffman voiced on Friday that Maye really needs work on his feet. Hoffman went as far as to say that the UNC offensive line was not very good, and thus, Maye, unlike Jayden Daniels, couldn’t be as smooth due to the pass rush he was facing often last season.

Hoffman also feels that Love learned and improved his footwork, sitting, and learning from watching Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

Hoffman suggested that Maye needs a veteran (other than Sam Howell) from whom Maye can learn footwork. He suggested Ryan Tannehill, Jacoby Brissett, and Tyrod Taylor.

If the Commanders hope to get the most out of Maye in 2025, perhaps the most effective method will be to spend the 2024 offseason and regular season being prepped daily, on reading defenses, mastering his footwork, while avoiding the fire of NFL pass rushes and blitz packages.

Rodgers, Love, and Patrick Mahomes are very good examples of current quarterbacks who have sat for at least a season and reaped the benefits.

4 Giants listed among NFL.com’s top 101 free agents of 2024

4 members of the New York Giants (and one ex-Giant) have made NFL.com’s list of the top 101 free agents of 2024.

The NFL recently released its list of the top 101 free agents of 2024. It’s a fluid list, receiving an update any time a player is signed or tagged. As of this writing, four current members of the New York Giants are on the list.

Saquon Barkley is the Giants’ highest-ranked free agent, which should not surprise anyone. He ranked sixth on the top 101 free agents list, highlighting once again that the Giants need to find a way to keep him.

Barkley performed better last year than his numbers indicated, playing smarter than he did earlier in his career. He has a complete game that could put an offense over the top.

Given everything that has happened over the last year, it won’t shock anyone if Barkley lands elsewhere. But if he does, the Giants will have a huge hole to fill at running back.

Xavier McKinney ranks 14th on the top 101 free agents of 2024 list, and he’s another one the Giants need to find a way to keep.

The amount of quality safeties available shows the NFL’s unfortunate disregard for the position, but McKinney is the most well-rounded option available now that Antoine Winfield received the franchise tag. McKinney can do it all.

As with Barkley, McKinney is likely to hit the open market and be in high demand. He’s stated he wants to be back with the Giants but only if the price is right.

Meanwhile, cornerback Adoree’ Jackson ranks 60th.

A walking example of how cornerback play isn’t consistent year to year, Jackson’s best seasons have been excellent. Just don’t leave him on an island all season like Wink Martindale did last year.

Finally, Tyrod Taylor landed at No. 88.

Tyrod was spinning it when he got the chance with the Giants, taking more shots and hitting more big-time throws than at any point since his arrival as a starter in Buffalo nearly a decade ago. He’s a perfect backup.

These two are unlikely to be back in blue next season for a variety of reasons. Jackson is inconsistent. When he’s on, he’s fantastic, but when he’s off… well, it’s not pretty. The Giants need young players who can contribute consistently and Jackson cannot guarantee that.

Taylor has turned into a career backup. The Giants are already seeking alternate options to sit behind Daniel Jones, so even though he held it together when Jones was out this season, it’s unlikely he will return in 2024.

There is one honorable mention that needs to be discussed. Former Giants defensive end Leonard Williams is a free agent this year and he ranked 10th on the free agent list.

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1 pending free agent the Colts could target from each NFC team

Taking a look at one pending free agent for the Colts from each NFC team.

With free agency right around the corner, the Indianapolis Colts have the chance to make some key additions to a roster that already has some promise.

Working with some of the most salary-cap space in the NFL this offseason, general manager Chris Ballard and the front office can continue to add pieces to the defensive side of the ball while improving the supporting cast for quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Re-signing some of their own players like Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart and Kenny Moore II will be key. But they also could look around the conference to bring in some outside talent.

We know Ballard isn’t one to make huge splashes in free agency, but they are still going to be an active team even if it means simply adding depth.

Here’s a look at one pending free agent from each NFC team that should interest the Colts:

5 Giants among PFF’s top 200 impending free agents

Pro Football Focus has released their list of the top 200 impending free agents and 5 current (and 2 former) New York Giants made the cut.

The new league year and the official start of free agency are just around the corner. On March 13, the NFL’s wildest off-field season begins as teams scramble to find talent on the open market.

The New York Giants will certainly be among the most active given their abundance of roster needs. They also have a large number of their own players hitting free agency, which will create additional turnover.

Recently, Pro Football Focus released their ranking of the top 200 impending free agents and five Giants made the cut. Several former Giants also did.

Defensive lineman Leonard Williams was ranked 16th overall and guard Kevin Zeitler was ranked 32nd overall.

Here’s where the current Giants landed:

Could Jimmy Garoppolo be in play for backup-needy Giants?

The New York Giants have been named a possible landing spot for soon-to-be released Las Vegas Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo.

Editor’s note: Jimmy Garoppolo is still on the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster but they are expected to release him before the start of free agency.

The New York Giants will address the quarterback position at some point this offseason. Not only is it necessary, but general manager Joe Schoen has been remarkably transparent that someone — maybe a couple of players — will be added.

Veteran Tyrod Taylor had his contract voided earlier this month and he’s headed for the open market. Schoen left the door open for him to return but it’s more likely the Giants look elsewhere.

Behind Daniel Jones, the only quarterback who remains under contract is Tommy DeVito, who will almost certainly be back.

So that leaves Schoen with two options for a backup: He can sign a veteran in free agency or he can select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft.

One potential free agent option, says Vic Tafur of The Athletic, is former second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo.

The Giants are married to Daniel Jones for better or for worse, but Garoppolo gives them a backup who knows Brian Daboll from their days together with the Patriots. This one only makes sense if you don’t believe in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and Tommy DeVito.

Head coach Brian Daboll may have been overseeing tight ends at the time, but as Tafur alludes, he did spend three seasons with Garoppolo in New England.

While Jimmy G barely saw the field over that span, Daboll did become familiar with the person and his work ethic.

Garoppolo is a guy who could come in and compete with Jones, helping to push the $160 million man after basically getting a free ride over the past six seasons. He’s also capable of stepping in and playing well should DJ go down hurt, which is what attracted the Giants to Taylor in 2022.

The problem when it comes to Garoppolo is that he was recently suspended two games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. He does not plan to appeal and will miss the first two weeks of the 2024 regular season which is most likely when the Giants would need him most as Jones works his way back from a torn ACL.

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NFL Network doesn’t offer favorable ranking for Giants’ three QBs

NFL Network ranked all 66 quarterbacks who started at least one game in 2023 and the New York Giants’ three QBs didn’t fare well at all.

The New York Giants were forced to shuffle through three quarterbacks in 2023 — Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor, and Tommy DeVito.

All three were injured at some point, with Jones suffering a serious neck injury followed by a torn ACL in Week 9. Taylor stepped in to replace him but was promptly sent to the hospital with a rib injury that proceeded to cost him several weeks.

DeVito was the healthiest of the trio but even he got banged up in multiple games and was forced to the sideline.

On the field, things were equally negative. Save for a thrilling three-game stretch under DeVito, the Giants’ quarterback play was uninspiring to put it modestly.

Just how bad were they? NFL Network’s Nick Shook recently ranked all 66 quarterbacks who started at least one game in 2023 and none of the Giants finished above 32nd.

Ranking 2024’s top 12 free-agent quarterbacks

Here are the top 12 quarterbacks who are about to hit the open market

The Carolina Panthers certainly won’t be on the lookout for a quarterback this offseason—at least as far as their main roster is concerned. But let’s rank the ones who are about to hit the open market anyway.

Here are the top 12 free-agent quarterbacks of the 2024 offseason: