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Tyrod Taylor won’t restructure contract to stay with Buffalo Bills

By Brad Berreman

Oct 30, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) comes into the game during the second half against the New England Patriots at New Era Field. The Patriots beat the Bills 41-25. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) comes into the game during the second half against the New England Patriots at New Era Field. The Patriots beat the Bills 41-25. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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With his future as a member of the Buffalo Bills up in the air, Tyrod Taylor seems ready to move on.

After one season as their starting quarterback, the Buffalo Bills signed Tyrod Taylor to a six-year, $92 million contract extension with more available via incentives last August. He’s due over $30 million in guaranteed money for 2017 once an option is picked up on March 11, so Taylor’s future in Buffalo is automatically up in the air.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported last week the Bills have some hope to keep Taylor on a cheaper contract, which is expected from their perspective. But as could also be expected on the other side, Taylor apparently has no interest in restructuring his contract.

According to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News, Taylor is not entertaining a restructure of pay cut. Carucci also added that Taylor and his agent believe they can find a similar deal on the open market. That last sentiment is unrealistic, even if Taylor winds up being one of the better quarterbacks available this offseason. But there should also be no motivation from Taylor’s camp to turn away from over $30 million next month, and thus help the Bills.

A poorly structured contract by the Bills is not Taylor’s fault, and he’s in a position of relative strength with a thin group of free agent quarterbacks one again this offseason. Either the Bills keep him this year, with all that guaranteed money, or they release him and he can test the market. That’s a rare win-win situation in the land of non-fully guaranteed contracts for NFL players, with the added benefit of possibly escaping what looks like an increasingly dysfunctional power structure in Buffalo.

Related Story: 5 potential landing spots for Tyrod Taylor in 2017

Taylor will have multiple suitors if he is available. But he can hold the Bills hostage for the full freight of what they owe him next month, or force them to make a tough decision without an obvious fallback option for a starting quarterback next season.

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