Los Angeles Chargers: Tyrod Taylor is ready to be the starting quarterback

As we get closer to the NFL Draft, Tyrod Taylor of the Los Angeles Chargers isn’t ready to just hand over the starting job to a rookie.

The Los Angeles Chargers will be in uncharted waters this season, as for the first time in a long time, Philip Rivers will not be their starting quarterback.

For over a decade, Rivers has been the leader of the Chargers. Even though he never won a Super Bowl in San Diego or Los Angeles, he was a fiery competitor who always gave them a chance to win.

However, in 2019, Rivers looked like he was on the decline. The Chargers decided to let him walk in free agency, and they are ready to go in a new direction. That new direction, as of now, is with Tyrod Taylor.

Taylor has bounced around a bit in his career but made a name for himself most notably with the Buffalo Bills. In three seasons with the Bills, Taylor totaled a record of 22-20. As a dual-threat quarterback, Taylor totaled 8,857 passing yards, 51 passing touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in Buffalo. On the ground, Taylor ran for 1,575 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.

There are certainly some appealing things to like about Taylor as a quarterback, but he hasn’t looked like he could be a franchise guy yet in his career. With the Chargers almost certainly drafting a quarterback in the first round, Taylor isn’t ready to just hand over the starting job.

Here’s what he had to say about the upcoming season with the Chargers to Tyler Dunne of Bleacher Report.

"“It’s more real than not, now,” Taylor says. “I’ve worked my butt off day in and day out to get to this point, to be able to look at year 10 in the National Football League and still be competing for a starting job. It’s a testament, for me, of the work that I’ve put in and the focus and the discipline I’ve had over the years.“At the same time, I’m motivated more than ever.”"

The comments by Taylor are certainly encouraging to hear for Chargers fans. Taylor wants to be the guy for Los Angeles and believes that he is capable of doing so.

Even if the Chargers do draft a quarterback in the first round, it could be Taylor who is the starter to start the season. Taylor has been with the team for a year and should be more comfortable with the franchise and the players around him than a rookie.

We will have to wait and see what the future holds for Taylor, but he looks hungry and ready to compete. Sometimes, that is enough to push a player toward greatness.