As Tyrod Taylor's up-and-down play has left open the possibility for the Buffalo Bills to make a change at quarterback in the offseason, one of the lingering questions surrounding the Bills' looming decision over Taylor's contract is whether he and the Bills can agree to a restructured deal that lessens the financial burden on the team moving forward.
The short answer to whether a restructured deal would work? It cannot be completely ruled out, but don't bet on anything happening.
The Bills' extension with Taylor, signed in August, already puts the quarterback under contract for $27.5 million in 2017 -- a salary that is guaranteed if Taylor suffers an injury that prevents him from playing next season. The Bills have until March 11 to exercise an option on Taylor's contract that would trigger the 2018 through 2021 years of the deal, paying him $15.5 million immediately and lowering his 2017 salary to a fully-guaranteed $12 million.
If the Bills do not exercise Taylor's option by March 11, then the entirety of his $27.5 million salary in 2017 becomes fully guaranteed March 12, and Taylor would be slated for unrestricted free agency after the 2017 season.