Chargers Looking At Surprising Candidate For Starting Quarterback
The Chargers are looking at a surprising candidate for their starting quarterback slot.
Los Angeles agreed to mutually part ways with Philip Rivers this past week.
The decision came after Rivers and the organization spent the last 16 years together.
This past season, Rivers threw for 23 touchdowns an 20 picks – some of the worst totals of his career. That, combined with his inability to connect with the Chargers’ new fan base in Los Angeles, made him somewhat expendable in the eyes of management.
The Chargers will begin anew in 2020 with a fresh face at quarterback.
Who will that quarterback be?
There have been a lot of candidates mentioned. Everyone from Tom Brady to Cam Newton To Marcus Mariota to Oregon’s Justin Herbert has been floated.
That said, this week Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn spoke with AM 570 and suggested that quarterback Tyrod Taylor might be the team’s starter in the foreseeable future.
“Tyrod Taylor is a heck of a quarterback,” he said.
“We couldn’t have a better backup right now, and now he has an opportunity to maybe step up into a starting role. I’ve had Tyrod before, and I know what this young man brings to the table, in the passing game and the running game.”
One of the things that Lynn really appreciates about Taylor is his ability to take care of the football.
“One of the things he does very well is take care of the football,” the head coach continued.
“I believe every year he’s started in this league he’s been the No. 1 quarterback in taking care of the football. I believe more games are lost than won. So if we can just take care of the football and take it away, we’ll be okay.”
Taylor was taken by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Last season, he signed a two-year deal with LA after having spent two years with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Cleveland Browns.
Over the course of 46 starts and 70 overall outings, Taylor has recorded 9,562 yards, 54 scores and 20 picks on 62 percent passing. Beyond that, he has also amassed 1,843 yards and 16 scores on the ground.
While it is certainly possible that Taylor starts the season in 2020 as Los Angeles’ starting quarterback, it is hard to envision a scenario where he sticks in that spot long term.
Related: Tom Brady May Sign With Titans, Says Colin Cowherd
Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
