Cleveland Browns Trade For New Quarterback

CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Browns have finally made their first big move of the off-season. The team has completed the terms of a trade deal to acquire quarterback Tyrod Taylor from the Buffalo Bills. To acquire Taylor, the team gave up one of its third round picks, the number 65 selection.

Taylor is a versatile quarterback who has been the starter for the Bills since the 2015 season. He doesn't turn the ball over much and has racked up a 22-20 record in three seasons as a starter. His touchdown to interception ratio for his career is 51-18, according to Pro Football Reference.

The Bills had been rumored to be shopping Taylor for more than a year, apparently wanting to move in a new direction, according to NFL.com. Browns General Manager John Dorsey was likely looking for a bridge quarterback who could start for a season or two while Cleveland develops a younger prospect.

Taylor fits the mold of quarterbacks Dorsey favors. During his stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, he sought out and acquired Alex Smith from the San Francisco 49ers, another player who won games and didn't turn the ball over much. Neither Taylor or Smith rank among the league's elite quarterbacks, but both will keep their teams in ball games.

Taylor and Smith have also both won football games with less talented teams, particularly Taylor. His Buffalo teams were not well renowned for their talent, yet his career record is still 22-20. That bodes well for a Cleveland team that is clearly on the rebuild (and has been for more than two decades, roughly).

The Browns will still have an arsenal of draft picks to deploy in April, including the first and fourth picks of the first round.

The Browns also acquired wide receiver Jarvis Landry from the Miami Dolphins on Friday afternoon. Cleveland sent a fourth round pick in the 2018 draft and a seventh round pick in the 2019 draft to Miami for the Landry, according to ESPN.

Landry hasn't had less than 750 yards during his past four season and has twice topped 1,000 yards receiving in a season. He caught 112 passes during the 2017 campaign. He'll likely be a key target for Taylor as both men get acclimated to Cleveland.

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