Update: The Bills announced on their official website that they've agreed to a long-term extension with Tyrod Taylor. According to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News, the deal runs six years and is worth $90 million, but could be worth more with incentives. The contract also contains team options.
Tyrod Taylor deal can be as long as six years, but contains team options. $90 million, but could be more with incentives.
— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) August 12, 2016
That gives Taylor an average annual salary of $15 million, just south of the Andy Dalton contract described in the story below.
According to NFL.com, Taylor is only guaranteed his $9.5 million salary in 2016, and the team will then have an option to pick up the remainder of the extension. So while Taylor gets a raise for this season, he still has plenty to prove.
Story: When the Buffalo Bills signed Tyrod Taylor last offseason, it wasn't necessarily with the idea that he'd end up as their starting quarterback. Taylor won a preseason competition against EJ Manuel and Matt Cassel, though, then had a very solid first campaign as a starter. He completed 63.4 percent of his passes at 8.0 yards per attempt while throwing 20 touchdowns against only six interceptions.
Now, it appears the Bills are on the verge of locking him down long-term. Multiple reports indicated that he will soon sign an extension that could run as long as six years.
Source tells me that #Bills and QB Tyrod Taylor are very close to announcing contract extension. Announcement could come as soon as today
— Josh Reed (@4JoshReed) August 12, 2016
I'm hearing upcoming Tyrod Taylor deal is not a bridge contract. Bills are all-in, maybe as long as six years (unsure on options).
— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) August 12, 2016
It will be very interesting to see the final numbers on a potential Taylor contract. Other than Robert Griffin III, every starting quarterback that is signed for multiple years and isn't still on his rookie deal has an average salary of at least $16 million per season, per Spotrac. Taylor, though, has far less experience and a much shorter track record than any of those players.
It's possible his deal could have an average salary near that range, yet carry a lower guarantee figure, like the contract the Bengals gave Andy Dalton. Dalton's six-year, $96 million contract averages $16 million per year, but only $17 million total was guaranteed. Only 17.71 percent of Dalton's contract value was guaranteed. Compare that to the other veteran quarterbacks, who averaged 57.1 percent guarantees.
Taylor seems likely to be closer to the Dalton end of the spectrum based on his career to date, but considering Graham's report that the Bills are "all-in," maybe we should be ready for a more typical long-term starting QB contract.
