The New York Jets will be on the hunt for a new quarterback this offseason, and they’ll have a little bit of luck on their side, it seems.
As X user Greengo pointed out, almost every time Tyrod Taylor has left a team, they’ve typically found their franchise quarterback the following season.
With Taylor expected to depart as a free agent this offseason, could the Jets be next in line to find their next long-term signal caller?
The Tyrod Taylor Method Isn’t Perfect
Of course, it isn’t a 100% guarentee that the New York Jets will find their franchise guy once Taylor leaves.
Afterall, the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants weren’t as lucky right away.
Taylor left Baltimore, the team that drafted him, after the 2014 season, and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson wouldn’t find his way to the Ravens until 2018.
The Browns had Taylor as their bridge quarterback ahead of No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield in 2018, and while Mayfield would lead the Browns back to the playoffs for the first time since 2002, I’m not sure you could classify him as Cleveland’s franchise quarterback.
For the Giants, the longtime backup departed after the 2024 season, but Big Blue wouldn’t select hopeful franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart until 2025.
As for the other teams, the Taylor luck kicked in almost immediately.
Buffalo Lands Its Savior
When Taylor left the Baltimore Ravens, he signed a three-year, $3.35 million deal to join the Buffalo Bills and had a successful tenure as the team’s starting quarterback.
After a Pro Bowl season in 2015, Taylor would go on to lead the Bills to their first playoff appearance since 1999 in 2017.
It would be a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the real victory would come in the following draft.
Buffalo would trade up and select Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and despite a rough rookie season, Allen would become a future MVP and lead the Bills to multiple AFC Championship game appearances.
Tyrod Taylor’s Punctured Lung Leads to Justin Herbert
Taylor was the backup for the Los Angeles Chargers entering the 2020 season, the bridge guy ahead of No. 6 overall pick Justin Herbert.
The veteran started the first game of the season for Los Angeles, and then disaster struck.
“A Los Angeles Chargers team doctor accidentally punctured quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s lung just before kickoff Sunday while trying to administer a pain-killing injection to the quarterback’s cracked ribs,” reported ESPN’s Adam Schefter on September 23, 2020.
The injury led to Herbert’s first NFL start, a 23-20 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, where the rookie passed for 311 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
The former Oregon Duck would go on to start the rest of the season, bringing home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Six years later, it’s safe to say the Chargers found their franchise quarterback, at the expense of Taylor’s lung.
Texans Find C.J. Stroud a Year After Tyrod Taylor Departs
While the Houston Texans had Taylor as their veteran bridge quarterback for 2021, they wouldn’t land quarterback C.J. Stroud until 2023.
Taylor and Davis Mills manned the Texans’ quarterback room in 2021, and Mills had sole possession of the reins in 2022.
Armed with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Houston selected the Ohio State quarterback and has experienced immense success since.
He would win Offensive Rookie of the Year for his 4,108 passing yards and 23-5 touchdown to interception ratio.
Under the guidance of head coach Demeco Ryans and Stroud, the Texans have won the AFC South twice and been to the playoffs all three years since landing the former two-time Heisman Trophy finalist.
Are the Jets up Next?
So, does this mean the New York Jets are destined for a franchise quarterback?
Not necessarily.
Maybe the Jets select Oregon quarterback Dante Moore at No. 2 overall, and he turns out to be a superstar.
But as most things in the NFL, there are no guarantees, and New York will hope the offensive infrastructure they have in place will be enough to develop whatever quarterback they bring in for the 2026 season, Taylor luck or not.
Tyrod Taylor Trend Could Be Good News for QB-Desperate Jets