1 - $60+ million is the new "guaranteed" for QB's that are perceived as being good enough to start.
2 - The Redskins were either not convinced that Cousins is the guy, or convinced that he would have costed them a lot more than Alex Smith did.
3 - The Chiefs were convinced that Alex Smith was not the guy and that it was more important to get a talented young cornerback.
4 - The Chiefs were convinced that Mahomes is the guy going forward.
5 - With other free agents that will be out there like Cousins and two of the three of Keenum/Bridgewater/Bradford, there is no trade market for Taylor based on his contract this year. I seriously doubt that anyone either pays his $16 guaranteed or renegotiates, presumably at an even higher guaranteed amount if they renegotiate an extension.
6 - There's nobody that I want as a "bridge" quarterback. This team has had bridge quarterbacks for almost two decades. If there is someone that's head and shoulders better than everyone else for Buffalo, you do what's needed to trade up to get him. If not, you stay put.