Ahead of the March 11 deadline to pick up quarterback Tyrod Taylor's contract option, the Buffalo Bills came to terms on a restructured deal with the signal-caller.
The team announced the news on its official Twitter account March 8
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Taylor would have been due $27.5 million had Buffalo picked up his option rather than work out a new deal.
The Bills have yet to reveal specifics regarding the restructured contract, but last Thursday, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported Taylor's full deal is now for two years and $30.5 million. La Canfora added there is $15.5 million guaranteed.
Tom Pelissero of USA Today reported more specifics on Taylor's deal Tuesday:
Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroFinally seeing Tyrod Taylor's redone #Bills deal: $14.5M fully gtd in 2017, $6M roster bonus + $10M base ($1M gtd) in 2018 ... then it voids
Per Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, new Bills head coach Sean McDermott expressed excitement over keeping Taylor in the fold via a press release: "We are excited about the opportunity to keep Tyrod with the Bills. I've gotten a chance to know Tyrod and study him over the past several weeks and he is both a great person and competitor. [General manager] Doug [Whaley] and I are confident this was the best move for the Bills at this time."
Buffalo initially signed Taylor prior to the 2015 season after he spent the first four years of his career as a backup with the Baltimore Ravens.
Taylor was named to the Pro Bowl in his first year as a starter after posting 3,035 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions to go along with 568 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. The 27-year-old followed that up with 3,023 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, six interceptions, 580 rushing yards and six rushing scores last season.
According to Buffalo Bills PR, Taylor is the Bills' all-time leader in passer rating at 94.2. He also ranked in the NFL's top 10 in QBR during each of the past two seasons, per ESPN.com.
Though the stats suggest Taylor is a quality starting quarterback, Carucci pointed out his contract situation gave the Bills pause:
Vic Carucci @viccarucciAbsolutely right thing for the #Bills to do. It was never a case of not wanting Tyrod Taylor. It was a case of not wanting previous deal.
While Taylor has a record of just 15-14 in two seasons as Buffalo's starter, the Bills will now rely on him to end an NFL-worst playoff drought of 17 seasons.
Taylor's return will also allow the Bills to focus on other areas of need in free agency and the draft, such as finding a complementary receiver across from Sammy Watkins and improving on a run defense that ranked 29th last season.
