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Will Tyrod Taylor replace Deshaun Watson with Texans?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/16/21

Earlier this month, veteran journeyman quarterback Tyrod Taylor told TMZ Sports he's fully recovered from the freak punctured lung he suffered last September and would like to compete for a starting job later this year.

Taylor may get his wish.

As NFL Network's Tom Pelissero explained, Taylor has agreed to a one-year deal to join the Houston Texans:

The #Texans are signing QB Tyrod Taylor to an incentive-laden contract, similar to what Cam Newton and Jameis Winston agreed to in recent days, per source. It can be worth up to $12.5 million, but the base value is less than half that. Solid backup money, and more if he plays.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2021

While the 31-year-old isn't Houston's QB1 as of March 16, that could change by April 29 and the opening of the NFL Draft depending on how the team handles unhappy starter Deshaun Watson. Watson has seemingly told anybody who will listen that he isn't playing another down for the Texans, but new head coach David Culley recently said the Texans are committed to Watson as their starting signal-caller.

The biggest obstacle preventing the 25-year-old from receiving his exit from Houston, other than his talent, is that he's signed through 2025. The Texans adding Taylor to the depth chart could, theoretically, ease the pain of losing Watson, but the early indication is that Taylor is viewed more as a solid backup than a bridge option at the position.

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