With Matt Schaub retiring this offseason and Kurt Benkert being waived, the future behind Matt Ryan is cloudier than ever in Atlanta. The Falcons hold the fourth pick in the draft, but this team has many other needs outside of backup quarterback. Ryan is the lone quarterback on the roster in Atlanta, and free agency doesn’t inspire much hope. I talked about Cam Newton as a potential option for Atlanta, but he most certainly isn’t a long term answer. Other names like Jameis Winston, Mitchell Trubisky, CJ Beathard, and Ryan Fitzpatrick don’t inspire very much hope. However, I do think there is a perfect fit between team and player. It’s Tyrod Taylor and the Falcons.
Taylor started his career in Baltimore over four seasons, but he didn’t make any starts. Taylor signed a very reasonable three year, $3.35 million contract with the Bills and immediately became their starter. Taylor started for three seasons until the Bills drafted Josh Allen, and he was relatively solid. Taylor posted an average of 2952 yards passing, 525 yards rushing, with 25 total touchdowns over three seasons. Taylor isn’t a gamebreaker, but he is very good at taking care of the football — he had the lowest turnover rate over his first two seasons in Buffalo among qualified quarterbacks. That’s where the value lies with Taylor, he isn’t going to win you any games — but he won’t lose you games in a pinch either. He can make plays with his legs and take care of the football, something the Falcons could use in a backup role. Even if Atlanta does draft a quarterback, Taylor still fits. He kept the seat warm for both Baker Mayfield and Justin Herbert in his last two stops, so he has mentored successful young quarterbacks.
Taylor may not be the sexiest pickup, but if he’s available at the two years & $10 million (or hopefully less) that PFF is projecting him at — I think he’s a perfect match for the Falcons who have more questions than answers at backup quarterback.
More must-reads: