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Cleveland Browns: Will the Browns use Tyrod Taylor as trade bait?

By Randy Gurzi

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 02: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Buffalo Bills looks to pass against outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins #48 of the New York Jets during the first half of the game at MetLife Stadium on November 2, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 02: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Buffalo Bills looks to pass against outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins #48 of the New York Jets during the first half of the game at MetLife Stadium on November 2, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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An ESPN article looking at 99 big stories in 2018 highlighted the Cleveland Browns new quarterback Tyrod Taylor as potential trade bait, but should he be?

The Cleveland Browns have been in the market for a legitimate starting quarterback for a long time. They have arguably their best option now in Tyrod Taylor, who they acquired this offseason in a trade with the Buffalo Bills.

In three years as a starter with the Bills, Taylor had a record of 22-20, which may not seem like much, but for a franchise that’s gone 1-31 the past two seasons it offers hope.

Even so, a recent story from ESPN says that the Browns could use Taylor as potential trade bait this season.

The article highlighted 99 things to watch in 2018, and Taylor came in once as a quarterback on the hot seat — thanks to the addition of No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield — and once as a guy who could be dealt.

"“The following two possibilities are not mutually exclusive: (1) Taylor plays well as the starting quarterback for the first two months and (2) the Browns start 2-6 anyway. If that happens, and they decide it’s time to give the job to No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield, Cleveland could look to move Taylor, whose contract voids at the end of this season, to a contender whose QB got hurt or is underperforming.” — Dan Graziano, ESPN"

That doesn’t sound that far fetched, but really it doesn’t make a lot of sense. If the Browns were to trade a quarterback on an expiring contract, they likely wouldn’t get much more than a mid-round pick.

Should they play out the season with him — regardless of the record — and he leaves in the offseason, they likely get a mid-round pick anyway as a compensatory selection.

Cleveland has had enough losing since returning to the NFL in 1999. They need to do all they can to win now, which means keeping the best player on the field. The only way they move on from Taylor is if Mayfield steals that job from him, which head coach Hue Jackson has made clear isn’t an option.

Next: Cleveland Browns: Looking at the QB situation

They want Mayfield to sit and learn the game for a year, which means Taylor isn’t going anywhere this season.

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