The Panthers have finally invested some significant picks into the cornerback position to give Donte Jackson a running mate. Veteran presence AJ Bouye was a nice add that can play on the outside and Jaycee Horn will surely lock down the CB1 role. Jackson will now be able to rotate between outside and nickel corner with the flexibility to cover the fastest receiver on the field, which is his ideal role.
However, Bouye is not a young corner by any means and is only on a two-year deal. It might seem a bit weird double dipping at corner, but taking a high-upside corner in the fifth round offers tremendous future value for Carolina. Washington’s Keith Taylor offers rare physical attributes and excellent press-man ability and can eventually replace Bouye as an outside corner in the Panther secondary.
Taylor has tremendous physical traits and has the athleticism to support it. He has surprisingly quick hips for a lanky corner and can turn and run with the most athletically gifted receivers in the league. He shows proper technique in press man and good instincts at the catch point to turn and swat the ball away. Taylor also displays physicality, length, and tackling ability that can translate to the next level.
The only red flags for Taylor are his inconsistencies and lack of ball skills. Sloppy press ability, footwork, and grabby-ness at the catch point are unfortunately scattered across his film but are all things he can work on and overcome with proper coaching/desire. Taylor seems like an excellent kid and has no character concerns, so there is little doubt he can have those things coached out of him.
The main concern is his lack of ball skills. Taylor had lots of opportunities to force turnovers in college. His coverage ability is there; he is naturally sticky in coverage and has tremendous athleticism, but he just cannot seem to come down with the ball. This will be a huge factor in his progression as a pro and how effective he can become, so the Panthers will need to get him on the jugs machine ASAP.
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