“Very Real Possibility” Tyrod Taylor Open To Restructured Deal, As Long As It Doesn’t Involve Pay Cut

Update:

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that while Bills QB Tyrod Taylor isn’t open to taking a pay cut next year, he may be willing to alter his contract a bit to reduce his salary cap figure and help the team’s overall cap situation.

According to Rapoport, there’s a “very real possibility” the two sides could agree to a restructured contract that could keep him in Buffalo.

Last year, the Bills benched Taylor, which many perceived as a business decision from the team. However, Rapoport says that it wasn’t so much a business decision as it was an opportunity for them to take another look at EJ Manuel.

Rapoport points out that the Bills hiring Rick Dennison as offensive coordinator could be an indication that they’re open to bringing Taylor back next year.

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Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News reports that QB Tyrod Taylor is “unwilling” to restructure his contract and agree to a pay cut to return to the Bills in 2017.

According to Carucci, Taylor and his agent are “firmly convinced” that he would secure the same salary from another team on the open market, so there’s really no incentive for him to reduce his compensation.

Carucci mentions that the Browns are a team worth keeping an eye on for Taylor, considering that they just hired former Bills QBs coach David Lee.

Of course, the Bills would have to decline Taylor’s option for the Browns to even have an opportunity to sign him, but there’s at least a chance that Buffalo could elect to move on from.

Earlier in the week, Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 reported that the Bills are still weighing their options with Taylor. Buffalo has until March 11 to exercise their option on Taylor’s contract, which would add another five years and $31 million to his current agreement.

According to Capaccio, new Bills HC Sean McDermott and his staff have been reviewing Taylor’s game tape and discussing whether or not they should bring him back for the 2017 season and beyond.

The Bills brought in Rick Dennison as their new offensive coordinator, which Ian Rapoport said could be good news for Taylor returning to Buffalo next year.

“For Tyrod Taylor, who some people assume is gone from Buffalo, this is pretty good news. Because this was the quarterbacks coach in Baltimore when Tyrod Taylor was the back to Joe Flacco…so there is a lot of familiarity here,” Rapoport said. “It would make no sense if the Bills hired Rick Dennison and got rid of Tyrod Taylor, one of the reasons (Dennison) signed there. So do not be surprised if Taylor is back, maybe on some sort of restructured contract for cap reasons. But this is very good news for the Bills’ starter.”

Taylor, 27, is a former sixth-round pick of the Ravens back in 2011. After four years in Baltimore, the Bills signed him to a three-year, $3.35 million contract that included just $1.2 million guaranteed last year.

However, the third year of his contract actually voided after he surpassed the snap limit last year. The Bills later signed him to six-year, $92 million contract but the deal is really a one-year, $9.5 million agreement with a $15.5 million option on 2017 to go along with a $12 million base salary

In 2016, Taylor has thrown for 3,023 yards while completing 61.7 percent of his passes to go along with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Taylor has added 469 yards rushing and six touchdowns on the ground. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 11 quarterback out of 36 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Taylor as the news is available.