STRENGTHS
Taylor is a playmaker because you can use him all over your defense as a free safety, as an in the box safety, in nickel dime coverage, as your slot cover DB and even near the line on blitzes and stunts. He has excellent quickness to get up to his full speed in about three steps. He has good size and will support the run like a linebacker. He can cover running backs out of the back field. He can be used to cover bigger receivers because he is smart and instinctive. He is a leader through his play on the field and, because of his high football IQ he can be used all over your defense. He has excellent hands and I believe would be an excellent slot receiver for your offense if you wanted to use him that way. There is no doubt that he can be an impact special teams’ player on the cover unit and also return kicks or punts if you needed him too. Taylor is a multi-talent football player and there is not much that he can’t do on the football field.
CONCERNS
I liked to see him add a little more bulk and move to the linebacker position without it affecting his speed and burst because he could be as good as Luke Kuechly. He also has the potential to be used like former Steelers Troy Polamalu, not quite as fast but, Taylor has better cover skills. The biggest concern is…he might be considered by some teams as a tweener. Not by me… but by some who tend to over analyze and not trust film.
TALENT BOARD ROUND 1.67
Most defenses are in nickel/dime coverage almost 70% of the time in a game and Taylor is perfect fit for a 4-2-5 defense. He is a perfect fit for this style of defense because of his high football IQ, speed, burst, excellent tackling in space and overall coverage skills. Taylor played all over his defense in college similar to how the Steelers used Troy Polamalu. Some teams call that position a Cover 2 robber and some call it a bandit. Taylor can be used in this type of defense because as a free safety he can read run, and filter down as a ninth defender or, be used anywhere in the defensive scheme close to the line of scrimmage or in the slot to help stop the run. He can also be used to get into the backfield from the slot and disrupt or sack the QB. In that cover 2 robber free safety position on passing downs, he can read crossing routes and disrupt them or read and rob those curl and shallow routes or… if someone goes vertical he can take them. It’s a position that has to have the instincts and high football IQ to understand what plays the offense is most likely to use on every down and distance. Taylor has this type of talent physically and mentally. If I’m right Taylor will be selected early in this draft. If I’m wrong most likely, he will be selected in the third or fourth rounds. For me personal, if I’m doing the selecting I’m taking Taylor off the board in the first round because this type of player usually winds up in the pro bowl and the playoffs.
