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Browns get Tyrod Taylor from Bills
The Cleveland Browns found their young veteran quarterback Friday when they agreed to a trade with the Buffalo Bills for Tyrod Taylor, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Browns will give up a third-round pick, No. 65 overall, for Taylor, according to the source.
Taylor will join a team that owns the Nos. 1 and 4 overall picks in this year's draft and seems focused on taking either USC's Sam Darnold or Wyoming's Josh Allen.
The Browns were interested in Taylor a year ago, but he agreed to stay in Buffalo with a new contract just before the start of free agency. If he starts the opener, he will be the 29th starting quarterback for the Browns since 1999.
The trade is expected to clear $10.44 million in 2018 cap space for the Bills, who had Taylor under contract through next season at $18.08 million. The Browns will inherit a one-year deal for Taylor that includes a $10 million base salary ($1 million of which is fully guaranteed) as well as a $6 million roster bonus due March 16.
Taylor, 28, compiled a 23-20 record in 43 starts for the Bills since 2015. After winning the Bills' starting quarterback competition in 2015 and making the Pro Bowl, Taylor's production declined in each of the past two seasons.
Taylor averaged 6.66 yards per pass attempt and threw for 14 touchdowns in 2017, short of his career highs set in 2015 of 8.0 yards per attempt and 20 touchdowns. He also compiled an 89.2 passer rating and a 53.0 Total QBR, down from his career-high 99.4 passer rating and 66.3 Total QBR in 2015.
The Bills signed Taylor to a five-year contract extension before the 2016 season that could have allowed him to earn $90 million. After Taylor posted a losing record in 2016, he accepted a renegotiated contract last year that eliminated the final three seasons and included a significant pay cut.
Taylor ends his Bills career as the franchise's all-time leader in passer rating (92.5) among quarterbacks to have started at least one game. His 1,575 rushing yards are also the most in franchise history among quarterbacks.
Taylor's 1,575 rushing yards are the second most in the NFL since 2015 by a quarterback behind Cam Newton (1,749).
The Browns will give up a third-round pick, No. 65 overall, for Taylor, according to the source.
Taylor will join a team that owns the Nos. 1 and 4 overall picks in this year's draft and seems focused on taking either USC's Sam Darnold or Wyoming's Josh Allen.
The Browns were interested in Taylor a year ago, but he agreed to stay in Buffalo with a new contract just before the start of free agency. If he starts the opener, he will be the 29th starting quarterback for the Browns since 1999.
The trade is expected to clear $10.44 million in 2018 cap space for the Bills, who had Taylor under contract through next season at $18.08 million. The Browns will inherit a one-year deal for Taylor that includes a $10 million base salary ($1 million of which is fully guaranteed) as well as a $6 million roster bonus due March 16.
Taylor, 28, compiled a 23-20 record in 43 starts for the Bills since 2015. After winning the Bills' starting quarterback competition in 2015 and making the Pro Bowl, Taylor's production declined in each of the past two seasons.
Taylor averaged 6.66 yards per pass attempt and threw for 14 touchdowns in 2017, short of his career highs set in 2015 of 8.0 yards per attempt and 20 touchdowns. He also compiled an 89.2 passer rating and a 53.0 Total QBR, down from his career-high 99.4 passer rating and 66.3 Total QBR in 2015.
The Bills signed Taylor to a five-year contract extension before the 2016 season that could have allowed him to earn $90 million. After Taylor posted a losing record in 2016, he accepted a renegotiated contract last year that eliminated the final three seasons and included a significant pay cut.
Taylor ends his Bills career as the franchise's all-time leader in passer rating (92.5) among quarterbacks to have started at least one game. His 1,575 rushing yards are also the most in franchise history among quarterbacks.
Taylor's 1,575 rushing yards are the second most in the NFL since 2015 by a quarterback behind Cam Newton (1,749).