NY Jets outbid crosstown rivals to sign Tyrod Taylor

The NY Jets made it clear that signing a competent veteran backup quarterback was a priority for the team entering the offseason, and they followed through on that goal, signing Tyrod Taylor to a two-year, $12 million contract last week.

Taylor spent the last two seasons with the New York Giants, starting five games in place of the injured Daniel Jones in 2023. As it turns out, the Giants had interest in bringing Taylor back next season.

Taylor spoke to reporters on Thursday for the first time since signing with the Jets, and he confirmed that the Giants did attempt to re-sign the veteran QB. According to Taylor, "It just didn't work out on the business side."

The Jets gave Taylor $8.5 million in guarantees — the fourth-most guaranteed money of any free-agent quarterback to sign this offseason. They outbid their cross-stadium rivals and secured Aaron Rodgers' backup for the next two years.

Tyrod Taylor solves the NY Jets' backup QB problem

The Jets have frequently neglected the backup quarterback position during Joe Douglas' time with the organization. That much was on full display last year after Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles just four plays in the season.

The Jets were forced to turn to Zach Wilson, a player who had statistically been one of the worst quarterbacks in modern NFL history to that point. The results were as expected.

Wilson struggled mightily, prompting the Jets to turn to the likes of Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian, neither of whom performed any better. Jets owner Woody Johnson remarked to reporters earlier this year that the Jets "didn't have a backup quarterback" on their roster last season.

Evidently, that was a point of emphasis for the Jets this offseason. Taylor is the best backup quarterback the Jets have had in years.

The 13-year NFL veteran has started nearly 60 games throughout his career, compiling a very respectable 28-28-1 record. He's a former Pro Bowler who has started a game for five different teams in the NFL.

The Jets paid a good chunk of money to secure their new backup QB. Only Kirk Cousins, Gardner Minshew, and Sam Darnold received more guaranteed money on their contracts this offseason, and all three of those players are expected to be in the mix for a starting job.

Taylor is strictly Rodgers' backup — a role the Jets hope to keep in place for the next two seasons if all goes according to plan.

The Jets didn't go cheap with their backup quarterback this year, and as a result, they outbid their fellow East Rutherford residents.