The Jets are going with Tyrod Taylor as their backup quarterback, and that seems like a good move. I don’t think it’s a realistic to plan on 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers to last all 17 games.
They went that route last year, and it didn’t work well, with Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle unable to move the offense. In Taylor, they’re getting an above-average backup.
Taylor didn’t play much last year, but when he did, he was surprisingly effective. The Giants actually performed better for him than they did under Daniel Jones.
Taylor in his four full games last year averaged 274 passing yards, with 4 TDs and 2 interceptions. While Taylor is 34, he can still move; he averaged 32 rushing yards in those games. Combined, those stats clock out to 20.9 points per week in typical formats; that’s better than most of the league’s regular starters.
And Taylor can really take care of the ball. There are 40 active quarterbacks who have started at least 30 career games. Of that group, Taylor has averaged the fewest interceptions (just 25 in his 58 starts). He’s the only guy with 50-plus starts who’s averaged even fewer picks than Rodgers.
INTERCEPTION RATES (active QBs) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | St | Pass | TD | Int |
Tyrod Taylor | 58 | 197.2 | 1.05 | .43 |
Jacoby Brissett | 48 | 208.2 | 1.00 | .46 |
Aaron Rodgers | 224 | 262.2 | 2.12 | .46 |
Russell Wilson | 188 | 232.2 | 1.78 | .56 |
Lamar Jackson | 77 | 205.3 | 1.61 | .58 |
Gardner Minshew | 37 | 242.3 | 1.46 | .59 |
Jalen Hurts | 51 | 228.0 | 1.29 | .65 |
Dak Prescott | 114 | 258.4 | 1.77 | .65 |
Patrick Mahomes | 96 | 296.1 | 2.28 | .66 |
Derek Carr | 159 | 245.9 | 1.52 | .67 |
Deshaun Watson | 65 | 256.2 | 1.80 | .68 |
Justin Herbert | 62 | 277.8 | 1.84 | .68 |
Daniel Jones | 59 | 211.8 | 1.05 | .68 |
Jared Goff | 117 | 260.1 | 1.58 | .70 |
Kyler Murray | 65 | 240.7 | 1.45 | .71 |
Joe Burrow | 52 | 270.8 | 1.87 | .71 |
Marcus Mariota | 74 | 206.8 | 1.23 | .72 |
Carson Wentz | 93 | 238.4 | 1.63 | .72 |
Tua Tagovailoa | 51 | 244.5 | 1.59 | .73 |
Zach Wilson | 33 | 186.5 | .67 | .73 |
Kirk Cousins | 145 | 268.8 | 1.83 | .73 |
Mitchell Trubisky | 57 | 207.0 | 1.19 | .74 |
Ryan Tannehill | 151 | 228.9 | 1.43 | .75 |
Justin Fields | 38 | 173.8 | 1.05 | .76 |
Case Keenum | 66 | 222.8 | 1.17 | .77 |
Trevor Lawrence | 50 | 235.4 | 1.16 | .78 |
Brian Hoyer | 42 | 225.9 | 1.07 | .79 |
Jimmy Garoppolo | 63 | 240.2 | 1.44 | .81 |
Geno Smith | 66 | 216.6 | 1.23 | .83 |
Joe Flacco | 185 | 237.1 | 1.32 | .84 |
Josh Allen | 93 | 243.3 | 1.80 | .84 |
Mac Jones | 42 | 212.3 | 1.10 | .86 |
Baker Mayfield | 86 | 229.6 | 1.48 | .86 |
Colt McCoy | 36 | 200.1 | .83 | .86 |
Matthew Stafford | 206 | 272.1 | 1.73 | .87 |
Andy Dalton | 163 | 234.3 | 1.50 | .88 |
Trevor Siemian | 33 | 217.9 | 1.18 | .91 |
Blaine Gabbert | 49 | 178.7 | .92 | .94 |
Sam Darnold | 56 | 210.1 | 1.11 | .98 |
Jameis Winston | 80 | 267.8 | 1.70 | 1.16 |
The contract Taylor signed indicates the Jets believe he’s an above-average backup. It’s $12 million for two years.
He makes some sense in those large-roster best-ball leagues, where teams are drafting 4-6 quarterbacks (to account for there being no roster moves). In such as format, you can draft a Rodgers-Taylor combo and figure you’ve got the second quarterback position secured.
—Ian Allan