New 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have said repeatedly they are going to explore all options when it comes to addressing the quarterback situation next season, whether that be via the draft, free agency and/or trade.
When it comes to the open market, the best option available may be Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who’s future with the team is currently uncertain. The 49ers are one of three teams to be interested in Taylor according to a report by longtime NFL reporter Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News, and brought to our attention by Chris Biderman of Niners Wire.
(Interested teams) are the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Jets, an NFL source said.
. . . And if the Bills choose to not pick up the option in Taylor’s contract, which would guarantee him $30.75 million, he would become available to be signed by any other club. A trade is also possible, but unlikely because the terms of Taylor’s contract would still be in place.
Despite being under contract through 2021 and due around $13.5 million per year until then, Taylor is not owed anymore guaranteed money by the Bills, assuming they don’t pick up his option. If they do, they will be locked in for the next two seasons, owing Taylor just over $30 million.
With the Redskins offering Kirk Cousins the franchise tag, there is a chance Taylor could be the only high level quarterback on the open market in 2017, assuming the Bills don’t sign Taylor and then try to move him via trade, something the Skins have also been rumored to be considering with Cousins. The Patriots’ Jimmy Garoppolo has also been kicked around as a trade target for the 49ers, though the Patriots are reportedly not looking to move the young QB.
Taylor, 27, had a nice, if under the radar season with Buffalo last year. His numbers didn’t quite reflect his quality of play, ranking 18th in passer rating (89.7), 19th in completion percentage (61.7) and 21st in yards per attempt (6.9). Pro Football Focus ranked Taylor as the 11th QB in the NFL last year and graded his quality of play as a slight regression from 2015.
