The Los Angeles Chargers will rely on their defensive secondary to shut down opponents during the 2023 season, and coordinator Derrick Ansley told the media on Wednesday that one unheralded player seems poised to help in that effort.
2022 sixth-round pick Ja’Sir Taylor, he said, was showing a savviness beyond what he expected, and may factor into the Chargers’ defensive strategy if he wins a spot on the 53-man roster after the preseason.
“He’s mature past his age,” Ansley said of Taylor. “He’s a very quiet kid, very observant. He understands the big picture. He’s working hard, just like how the other stars are working hard. That is going to be an interesting battle once we get to camp.”
Taylor made three starts last season as a rookie and used his elite speed to chase down ball carriers for 22 combined tackles. With just a single pass defensed in 2022, the jury is still out on his ball skills, but with quotes like this coming out of Los Angeles’ mandatory minicamp, Taylor is certainly a player that fans should keep their eyes on.