One offseason move each NFL team must make
Washington Redskins-Sign QB Tyrod Taylor
A gruesome left leg injury in Week 11 last season has brought the idea Alex Smith will never play again, so the recent news the Redskins don’t expect to have him for the 2019 season is not at all surprising.
One storyline to follow for 2019: The #Redskins are planning as if they won’t have QB Alex Smith next season, sources say. They believe he’ll miss the entire season with his broken leg issues and are acting accordingly. If he’s ready, they will be pleasantly surprised.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 27, 2019
The Redskins are sure to be in the market for a quarterback this offseason, perhaps via both free agency and the draft. Smith’s contract prevents a big splash in free agency, and there’s not a quarterback out there who will command that kind of money anyway. The 15th overall pick in April’s draft could bring an opportunity to draft a signal caller, but Washington may need a one-year bridge.
Taylor started the first two games this past season for the Cleveland Browns, before a concussion in Week 3 opened the door for Baker Mayfield to take over and never look back. Taylor will now hit free agency, and teams will have to refer back to his time with the Buffalo Bills to get a full picture of who he is as a quarterback.
Over three seasons (2015-2017) as the Buffalo’s No. 1 quarterback (43 starts), Taylor completed nearly 63 percent of his passes while averaging 7.2 yards per attempt. He has obvious limitations as a passer, but he adds notable production with his legs along with a 1.3 percent interception rate (16 interceptions in 1,236 attempts) over his time with the Bills.
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Washington will probably have some interest in Nick Foles and Joe Flacco too. But if it comes down to cost for them, and an opportunity to start next season for Taylor, the two sides could find a suitable marriage.