Bills Benching Tyrod Taylor, Will Start Nathan Peterman

Bills HC Sean McDermott announced Wednesday that they’re benching Tyrod Taylor in favor of rookie QB Nathan Peterman.

“Really, it’s about becoming a better team. … Every position is evaluated and that’s the direction I decided to go,” McDermott said, per Mike Rodak.

McDermott added that: “We are 5-4, I understand that and we are in the playoff hunt. We are about more than 5-4.”

This comes as a surprise, considering that McDermott had publicly supported Taylor in recent days, even after they were blown out against the Saints last weekend.

As for Taylor, Tom Pelissero points out that the Bills structured his contract so that the only future guarantee is $1M portion of base salary in 2018. The Bills have to decide whether to pick up his $6 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2018 league year, and this clearly isn’t a great sign for his status with the team moving forward.

Peterman, 23, was taken in the fifth-round of this year’s draft by the Bills. He signed a four-year, $2.63 million contract and stands to make base salaries of $465,000 and $555,000 over the first two years of the agreement.

In 2017, Peterman has appeared in one game and completed 7 of 10 passing attempts for 79 yards and one touchdown.

Taylor, 28, is a former sixth-round pick of the Ravens back in 2011. After four years in Baltimore, Taylor signed on with the Bills for the 2015 season.

Taylor is currently in the first year of his two-year, $30.5 million contract and stands to make base salaries of $7.5 million and $10 million.

In 2017, Taylor has appeared in nine games and thrown for 1,684 yards while completing 64.2 percent of his passes to go along with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also rushed for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 9 quarterback out of 37 qualifying players.