Tyrod Taylor Named Bills' Starting QB over EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel

Tyrod Taylor wasn't the popular pick by many to win the Buffalo Bills' starting quarterback job coming into training camp, but thanks to an excellent preseason, that's just what he did.

Rex Ryan confirmed the decision on Monday via Mike Rodak of ESPN. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports had reported Monday that Taylor was named the team's starter over Matt Cassel and EJ Manuel.

Ryan noted that he changed his mind about announcing a starter, as he didn't want his players to face questions about the position if he kept it quiet, according to Rodak.

Glazer added that the team loved Taylor since the beginning of camp, though it had an open competition for the starting gig. 

NFL Network's Albert Breer elaborated further on Taylor's perceived status as the front-runner:

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, meanwhile, speculated that either Manuel or Cassel could be moved after failing to win the starting job. However, Ryan dismissed that notion, saying he expects to keep three quarterbacks on the roster, via Joe Buscaglia of WKBW.

“All three guys did a tremendous job," Ryan said, via Tom Martin of News 4 Buffalo. "Came down to the explosiveness Tyrod gives us.”

Ryan also said that seeing Taylor throw from the pocket helped solidify the decision to name him the starter, via Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News: "That was important. ... His ability to throw the ball was the overriding thing." 

Taylor, 26, punctuated a strong training camp with a remarkable third preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, completing 12 of 13 passes for 122 yards and a rushing score. In three preseason games, he went 24-of-31 for 236 yards.

Taylor, who spent his first four seasons as a backup with the Baltimore Ravens, was signed in the offseason, and many fans likely felt he was simply brought in to be a backup or perhaps run some zone-read plays, given his athleticism. But Taylor not only showed off his ability to create plays with his feet but also proved to be a steady, consistent passer, vaulting himself to the top of the quarterback battle for most of camp. 

The Bills have put some nice weapons around him, with running back LeSean McCoy, tight end Charles Clay and wide receiver Percy Harvin added this year, while second-year receiver Sammy Watkins gives him a dynamic young target out wide. 

But Taylor will also likely be operating on a short leash after both Cassel and Manuel proved they were capable of handling the starting role for the team, with Ryan noting via Buscaglia that the roster was built to win and that the team's mentality won't change with Taylor under center.

In other words, keeping the job may prove to be as difficult as winning it was.