Detroit Lions: Tajh Boyd worth adding?

By Baxter Colburn | Feb 11, 2015

Here is the simple truth for the Detroit Lions, if Matthew Stafford ever gets hurt, the team has no one to step in and take over effectively. The Lions hosted former Clemson and New York Jets quarterback, Tajh Body yesterday for a work out. While Boyd did leave without a contract in hand, he did perform well enough that he could return and become Stafford’s backup.

Looking across the board for the Lions, obviously Stafford is the number one quarterback on the roster. After that however, the options take a huge drop. Last season’s number two, Dan Orlovsky, is an unrestricted free agent, while the third option is Kellen Moore, who is a restricted free agent. Detroit has made it known that keeping Moore is a part of their plans, but what of that other spot? Enter Boyd.

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While he was in college, Boyd was a standout at Clemson University. Up until his senior season, many draft scouts and experts thought he would be a clear first round selection. Unfortunately, Boyd failed to produce the same type of quality numbers he had the previous three seasons.

Due to Boyd’s poor senior season, he still entered the draft, but fell all the way to the sixth round and finally was drafted by the Jets. His big arm and mobility made a name for himself in college and many wondered if that would successfully transition over.

After starting training camp with the Jets, he failed to make the final roster and suddenly did not have much direction for his life. There was good news for Boyd and Lions fans however, and it came in the form of well-known football genius, Terry Shea. Lions’ fans might remember that Shea worked long and hard with Stafford when he first came out of college and helped develop him into the player he is today.

Shea is also the coach of Boyd’s FXFL team, the Boston Brawlers, the team Boyd played on after not making the final Jet’s roster. After working out with Boyd, Shea did say he believes Boyd can play in the NFL.

"“I do see that,” Shea told the Detroit Free Press. “I often thought, ‘OK, if I were organizing an offense at the NFL level, how would I evaluate Tajh Boyd?’ And I said to myself, ‘He could be one of three, he could be one of four going into camp,’ and I think his skill set might allow him to win one of those jobs, whether it was a No. 3, and then with time he would grow. And I think he will if somebody has a chance to develop him.”"

While playing for the Brawlers, Boyd completed an impressive 58% of his passes in his five starts for the team. On top of that, he also threw for 713 yards, six touchdowns and only one interception.

During the 2014 NFL Preseason, Boyd did play sparingly for New York where he went 8-17 and threw one touchdown in week four against the Philadelphia Eagles. After seeing the lack of talent shown by both Geno Smith and Michael Vick during last season, maybe the Jets should have kept Boyd on the roster.

The Lions know that their situation at backup quarterback is not a good one. If Stafford goes down, who would you turn to? Moore? If you want to never win another game in the season maybe. Detroit know that their offseason must focus of finding a solid and dependable backup for Stafford.

Think of how many teams in the NFL have great or élite quarterbacks. Now think about first off, if you can even name their backup quarterback and if you can, good for you, now, is that player you thought of, someone you’d trust to take over if your star quarterback went down? I did not think so.

The great debate about properly investing in a solid backup quarterback is an entirely different article all together. However, the Lions do need to find their answer during the offseason, whether it is free agency or the Draft. It would not hurt honestly if the Lions pursued both areas and gave those players significant time to work out with the team.

Time is starting to slip away from the Lions and the team must figure out who their trusted backup will be sooner than later. Do the Lions trust Moore as their clear second string option or should the team continue to pursue other avenues at the backup spot?

After watching film on Boyd, he does have what it takes to be a good second or third option on an NFL team. he is still a long ways a way from ever being a starter, but he does have the needed skills to at least make a start in the league and grow into a great player.

Next: Matthew Stafford won't be elite

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