1billsfan

Some clarity is in order. This years QB draft class looks like it's one of the worst, and next year's seems like it might be one of the best. So... 1. Move on from Taylor (he's the top end of the mediocre level we've come to expect at the position) 2. Sign a cheap veteran QB like Hoyer 3. Start Hoyer (or whoever) and when Jones gets even close to ready you play him till the end of the season. 4. If Jones doesn't cut it (looking at 4-12 record), you select your franchise QB for the next 10-15 years. Bills fans should be able to wait one more year. Watch Cardale Jones when he gets his chance and also watch college football for the future QB of the Bills that they'll be picking in the 2018 draft.

What's your point here? You're splitting hairs. Do you strive for mediocrity? Is that what you want for the Bills? You're ok with being 8-8 forever as long as the league won't ever see you as the Browns? Are you hoping for a magical season where Taylor's game rises exponentially? Seriously, what's your point and end game here? Move on, turn the page, let's find another QB in the next two drafts to compete with Jones or make a blockbuster trade for Luck. Let's strive to get back to the Superbowl, not be forever "in the hunt" on the outside looking in. If that means we risk being a bottom team this year so be it. It makes your chances that much better to land Darnald.

Not sure why you keep bringing up Tannehill. That guy isn't a long term answer at QB either. The Dolphins will waste another two years with him before making the decision to move on.

To boil it down, Taylor doesn't get it done in crunch time. Forget comparing stats, records, metrics...NFL QBs are judged by what they do in crunch time. I can only remember one game in which Taylor did this.

He's a level below those guys. Stats are not the end all be all when comparing players, especially in the NFL. Specifically with Dalton, he has shown the ability to beat good teams, pull out wins in crunch time and get his team into the playoffs. That's what puts those players a level above a QB like Taylor who would need an almost perfect team around him to beat good teams and win consistently.

I think he's Fitzpatrick. Yes, he throws a ton more picks than Taylor, but his chance taking and using all of his receivers evens things out. Regardless, they both are ok QBs that give you some hope, but you know they aren't the QB to get you to that contending level you want to be.

Taylor isn't Romo. There's a huge difference there. I think you're overvaluing Taylor. You see him as a solid starter worth about 15 million a year. I see him as a cheap, journeyman type of free agent starting QB who will provide a team stability and credibility from hitting bottom, but will never be the solution for a team with high expectations. No team would trade for Taylor with that contract. If you pick up the option, you're stuck with that 17 million next year and are basically doing so knowing he most probably won't be the starting QB in 2018. Look at the 2017 schedule and tell me how many wins you'd expect and would that be enough for Taylor to keep his job.

Let's say the Bills keep Taylor and draft their franchise QB next year. Taylor will be using up 17 million dollars of the Bills cap space in 2018. Do you really think the Bills are not going to start their QB right away in 2018? Wouldn't that money be of much better use to spend on OL and the rest of the roster to help out a rookie QB? How foolish would it be to have a 17 million dollar backup QB? I think Taylor fans are in for a rude awakening. His huge salary just doesn't fit where this team is heading at all. They're most probably looking for their franchise QB within these next two drafts and Taylor's way too expensive to have as a QB whose just a "keeping the seat warm QB" for the real guy they want.

This guy ranks David Njoku / Miami as the top TE... http://gbnreport.com/top-5-prospects-position/ Just watched tape and he does look faster and more athletic than Howard. Lot of great prospects in this draft. If I'm the Bills, I feel very comfortable trading back for more picks.

"Good" as in what level of a current franchise NFL qb? If that's Andy Dalton then you for sure take a pass and wait till the 2018 draft. The next 10 years this franchise qb will have to be able to beat the likes of a Carr, Luck and Mariota in the AFC. Good isn't going to be good enough.

Since he's been using the term "long term", I'm sure doing this is on Whaley's radar if the opportunity comes up.

This^ May favorite 2017 draft scenario is for the Bills to trade back into the 20s for some team's 2018 1st round pick. That certainly increases your odds of landing a franchise QB in what looks like a very good to excellent draft class. We can all wait a year. Who knows, if Cardale becomes the steal of last years draft with his play, then they'll have two first rounders to become a great team!

The problem with Watson is also the core problem with Taylor. The NFL is not college football. You must have the ability to drop back, look over the entire field, and be able to spot an open receiver(s) if the first option is not open. IMO, Watson and Taylor are QBs who have been programmed to run after the first option isn't there. It's college football, and it doesn't work in the NFL. Not only are you running a gimmicky offense, it's also an offense that's run to the detriment of your highly skilled receivers' development and the moral of the group. Once you establish this kind of offense for the long term, you won't ever be able to sign any free agent WR or TE to come that's any good. It would take five years to recover from going in this direction. It's best the Bills move on from Taylor, don't draft Watson or any other QB within the first three rounds of a seemingly bad draft class of QB, then maybe try to trade for a QB like Hundley to compete with Jones. If that doesn't work, sign Foles or Hoyer to a cheap deal, have them play however many games it takes for Jones to be ready, see what Jones has, then if he's not the answer, look towards a much better QB class in the 2018 draft where they will probably have a shot at a true franchise QB prospect who can start right away in the 2018 season. IMO, this is the best route for this team to take.

I've come to the opinion of wanting them to stay away from QB until the fourth round because I don't like any of these QBs projected in the first three rounds. The ones that have a chance seem like 2 year projects and we already have one of those with Jones. IMO, it's better to use the top picks on bolstering the roster with good players, see what Cardale or the 2017 4th rd or later QB have (along with a cheap vet QB in the mix) and look towards the 2018 draft for using a #1 pick on a QB that's hopefully worthy of it. It's a risk to hold off a year, but I feel like they'd be burning a high pick on this year's QB class this year. From what I've read, the 2018 class will have better prospects and the Bills will probably be drafting higher than they are this year.

You acted like you knew something and it wasn't just your opinion...LOL You have no clue about what Jones is or isn't going to do. One thing he has going for him is that he's a drop back QB with a big arm and that's what the NFL is about (see current playoff results). It's not about gimmicky "running QB" offenses like they have with Taylor. Whether it's with Jones or with some other QB, the Bills will not get back to having success longterm without a drop back QB with a big arm.

What’s this Cardale Jones bashing based on? Jone’s development and readiness is a complete mystery. Yet you pretend you know something? Do you? If not, that’s an interesting thing to do to a Bills player who’s done nothing but be a classy guy and team player. As for his college benching, Urban Meyer didn’t want his starting QB to be a drop back passer. There are truly great college QBs, like Deshaun Watson, who’s game doesn’t translate well to the NFL, and the other side of that coin is that there are college QBs who’ve had lesser career’s (even benching) but are much better suited to the NFL game.

2017 schedule - Almost for sure losses - 2 Patriots games, Raiders, Falcons, Buccaneers Say they split wins vs Jets/Dolphins - 2 more losses That’s 7 losses Of the remaining 9 games, well say the Bills start off with the 2 wins from the Jets/Dolphins split. That means the Bills would have to go 6-1 in these games to just get to an 8-8 record… Chiefs (Smith), Chargers (Rivers), Panthers (Newton), Bengals (Dalton), Broncos, Saints (Brees), Titans (Mariota) You can call it what you will, but I’m with you in expecting a 6 win record even with Taylor starting. So what’s the point of bringing him back. If the Bills go 6-10 with Taylor, he won’t be back as the Bills starting QB in 2018. And he’ll be sucking up 18 million or so in cap space that could have been used to help out a young QB by surrounding him with a solid roster of players especially on the offensive line.

There's no "in the meantime" if the Bills want to move away from the "running QB" offense that only 9% of the league uses. Taylor's a great guy, a decent QB, but the Bills may feel that the WR and TE positions are suffering too much in this niche offense, and it also exposes the starting QB to injury way too much without having a QB with the same skill set as his backup to use the same system.

Imagine Taylor with zero help in the running game. Good luck with that.

Being the best free agent QB is like a back handed compliment. Because no truly viable NFL starting QB ever reaches free agency. As for the reasoning, this is the NFL. If the front office doesn't "buy in" or believe in you, what's the point of bringing that player back? So that fans can remain calm? It just doesn't work that way.

IMO, the realities of why Taylor won't be back... 1. Taylor was Rex's guy 2. There's only three teams in the NFL using their QB as part of their rushing attack 3. Whaley drafted a classic drop back passer in Jones and has another opportunity to draft Jone's competition with a high pick 4. He said the criteria of QB decision-making will come down to if a player fits their long term vision for the position I can't imagine that a running QB is part of their long term vision for the team. I wouldn't be surprised if the don't wait till March 11 to notify Taylor they're not picking up the option, that they're moving on and going in another direction with the QB position.

You mentioned three things that would make him a quite attractive QB to other NFL teams and didn't mention anything about his passing ability.

I wish Taylor the best (except when playing Buffalo). He's always been a cool and classy guy and gave his best to the team. Having said that, I really don't care what team he goes to or what he makes.

I think more and more the Bills are going to move on from Taylor and not even want him back at a renegotiated price. In a recent interview discussing the QB situation Whaley said that they (FO/coaches) were going to sit down and decide if that player fits the long term criteria at that position. I find it hard to believe the long term criteria includes having their future long term starter being a running QB playing a hybrid of college and pro systems. Not trying to be harsh, but who really thinks Tyord would fit the criteria as the long term answer? Probably wise to start looking at this year's QB class as to who'll be Cardale's competition in training camp. If this is the case, they would also probably sign a cheap veteran QB to be a mentor and possible early season starter.

But the point is that Wilson did it. He threw the winning TD pass. He’s done it again and again (13 4qc and 18 gwd). Taylor has had the opportunity to do this a handful of times in his starting career and he’s failed in all but one and in that one he used his legs more than his arm to win the game. Also, planning on having a defense like Seattle or the 2000 Ravens to win you a championship for the Bills with a QB like Taylor isn’t a plan, it’s a fools game.