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Quarterback Tyrod Taylor Chooses Bills Over Broncos

By Khaled Abdallah

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The Denver Broncos are apparently in search of another backup quarterback and they are not waiting for the draft to find one. The Broncos only have two quarterbacks on their roster in Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler and according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, they were targeting four-year veteran Tyrod Taylor. The former Baltimore Raven instead chose to sign with the Buffalo Bills in order to fight for a starting place and Rodak reports he turned down more money from Denver.

Taylor of course knows that the starting job in Denver belongs to Peyton Manning but what about the backup quarterback position? The question that remains is just how much do the Broncos trust Brock Osweiler? Osweiler was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft which is most remembered for the high number of starting quarterbacks selected.

Aug 28, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) runs as New Orleans Saints cornerback Stan Jean-Baptiste (33) pursues during the first half of a preseason game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

A total of five regular starters were selected in that draft in Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill, Russell Wilson, and Nick Foles. Only Wilson and Foles were drafted after Osweiler but the Broncos may be looking back at that draft with some degree of regret. Kirk Cousins and Ryan Lindley were also selected in that draft but it is doubtful John Elway is losing sleep over passing on the both of them.

To be fair to Osweiler, no one really knows what kind of quarterback he truly is. Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post was high on the young quarterback after his last outing in the preseason but we have yet to see him play many meaningful regular season snaps. Even with Manning struggling with a tear in his quadricep muscle late last season, Osweiler only attempted a total of 10 passes.

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The Broncos front office clearly still has some trust in him as they have not gone out to try and sign a proven veteran backup in case something goes awry with Manning. The move to try and sign Taylor is curious considering the Bills gave him $1.2 million guaranteed over three seasons and Denver offered him more than that. Taylor also does not fit the physical profile of Manning or Osweiler who are both 6’5″ and above and lack mobility.

The former Virginia Tech quarteerback is listed at 6’1″ and is known for his ability to scramble and make plays outside of the pocket. He was used in the past by the Ravens for trick plays and could have played a similar role in Denver. Perhaps Head Coach Gary Kubiak, who spent a year with Taylor in Baltimore, knows what he is capable of and was simply interested in having a QB who already knows his offense on the roster.

Taylor has a chance to become the starter in Buffalo as both EJ Manuel and Matt Cassel have been benched for their poor play in the past. The same obviously can’t be said of Peyton Manning or Brock Osweiler so Taylor made the move that made the most sense. He believes he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL and he would not be getting that chance in Denver.

Rest easy Osweiler fans. Your second favorite quarterback, presumably after Manning, is still the backup in the Mile-High City.

Next: Broncos Wrong To Let Julius Thomas Get Away

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