The Cincinnati Bengals need to upgrade their backup quarterback situation in the offseason and Tyrod Taylor would be a perfect fit.
Injuries and COVID have underscored the need for NFL teams to have a capable backup quarterback more than ever this year. However, the league doesn’t have 32 decent starting quarterbacks to go around, much less backups.
Still, some teams need to upgrade that spot more than others. Now that we have had a long look at the offense without Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals fall into that group.
Why Tyrod Taylor for the Bengals?
Cincinnati rejected the idea of bringing in a veteran as the primary backup to Burrow last offseason. Due to the continued failure of the Ryan Finley experiment, they ended up using one anyway with the practice squad promotion of Brandon Allen. Allen hasn’t been terrible but needs more help than Cincinnati’s roster can provide.
Tyrod Taylor has been around for almost a decade for a reason. The current Chargers’ backup doesn’t have a turnover issue and has a winning record as a starter, including 24 wins. He is younger and much more mobile than fellow soon-to-be free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Some have speculated about Fitzpatrick returning to Cincinnati for 2021. Cincinnati’s offensive line has no choice but to improve before next season. Even so, I would have serious reservations about putting a 38-year-old quarterback behind it any time in the semi-near future. Mobility is a must for any signal-caller on this roster. Taylor checks that box more so than Fitzpatrick.
The Burrow factor
The elephant in the room here is Burrow’s recovery from his season-ending knee injury. Early reports are good, but rehab is a tough process. It is way too early to tell if he will make it back for the start of 2021.
When Burrow is healthy, this is his team. However, the Bengals are working on winning just four total games in the last two seasons. Burrow or no Burrow, this franchise has to start winning games. If Burrow isn’t ready come September or gets hurt again, Taylor gives Cincinnati a fighting chance to do that.