Tag: Keith Taylor

Panthers rookie scouting report: Keith Taylor offers rare physical attributes

Washington’s Keith Taylor offers rare physical attributes and excellent press-man ability.

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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Panthers pick Washington CB Keith Taylor at No. 166

With the No. 166 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Carolina selected Washington corner Keith Taylor.

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The Panthers hit the cornerback button again with their second fifth-round choice of the day.

With the No. 166 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Carolina selected Washington corner Keith Taylor.

Taylor (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) fits that perfect long, physical Pacific Northwest model of cornerback that’s become so popular in recent years. Washington churns out the best of them, and Taylor likely won’t be the last the Panthers draft with Scott Fitterer in charge.

During his time in college, Taylor posted 90 tackles and 10 pass breakups, but zero interceptions. He joins what’s becoming a radically made-over cornerback room along with first-rounder Jaycee Horn and free-agent signings A.J. Bouye and Rashaan Melvin.

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2021 NFL draft: A cornerback for Chargers in each round

The Los Angeles Chargers need to get younger and add more talent at cornerback.

Cornerback sits near the top in regards to positional groups that need to be addressed in the upcoming draft for the Chargers.

Luckily, this year’s crop has talent from the first day of the draft all the way until Day 3.

With that being said, here’s one from each round that could fit in Los Angeles:

Round 1 | Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech

Farley opted out of the 2020 season but racked up 12 passes defensed and four interceptions in 11 games in 2019 en route to earning first-team All ACC honors.

Farley, the wide receiver convert, is still relatively new to the position. However, he has just scratched the surface of how good he could become, as he possesses the size, burst, agility and ball skills to become a solid NFL corner.

Farley projects as a high-end outside corner at the next level, who can step in immediately and contribute for the Chargers. Plus, he would only benefit from having defensive guru Brandon Staley’s expertise while he continues to grow into the position.

Honorable Mention: Jaycee Horn, South Carolina

Round 2 | Greg Newsome, Northwestern

Newsome was a key piece in a Northwestern defense that finished No. 1 nationally in team pass efficiency defense and No. 5 in scoring defense (15.5 points per game). He totaled 71 tackles, 20 pass breakups, one interception and one fumble recovery in three seasons for the Wildcats.

As Northwestern’s boundary corner, Newsome was tasked with eliminating the short side of the side, either in quarters or press-man coverage. The 6-foot-1 and 190-pound corner is a technician who has fluid hips to stay with receivers, good eye discipline and physicality against the run.

Newsome would be an immediate contributor for the Chargers and has the ability to be a strong starter for years down the road.

Honorable Mention: Asante Samuel, Jr., Florida State

Round 3 | Keith Taylor, Washington

Through his four seasons for the Huskies, Taylor posted 90 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 10 passes defended. He went on to participate in this year’s Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he was arguably one of the best corners on display.

It’s noteworthy that Taylor didn’t produce any interceptions in college.

While there’s some concerns with his ball skills to create turnovers, he displays the athleticism, spatial awareness, competitiveness and length to stay attached to receivers, projecting as someone to grow into a long-term solution in the secondary as a strong No. 2 corner.

Honorable Mention: Trill Williams, Syracuse

Round 4 | Shakur Brown, Michigan State

One of my sleepers in this year’s class, Brown burst onto the scene in 2020 for the Spartans, playing his best football of his collegiate career. The 5-foot-11 and 190-pound corner posted 25 tackles, five interceptions, four passes defensed in seven games played.

Brown was one of the nation’s top play-makers, showing plus instincts, use of hands in press man coverage and awareness to decipher route combinations. Along with that, he does a fine job at playing with his back to the quarterback and shows good ball skills to come away with the rock.

Brown missed multiple games in 2019 due to an injury. But those concerns aside, he has key traits that can’t be taught that will allow him to rise to the top of a depth chart quickly, capable of playing inside or outside at the next next level.

Honorable Mention: Benjamin St-Juste, Minnesota

Round 5 | Olajiah Griffin, USC

The son of famous rapper Warren G, Griffin, a highly touted five-star recruit, played for three seasons with the Trojans. In total, Griffin accounted for 67 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 13 passes defensed and one interception.

Standing at 6-foot and 175 pounds, Griffin shows excellent athleticism, acceleration to turn and run with receivers, competitive nature & good use of hands at the line of scrimmage in press to disrupt the release and the short area quickness to close on receivers.

At the next level, Griffin must add some mass to his frame, improve his play strength and eye discipline in man coverage. But overall, his intriguing traits will enable him to become a starting corner down the road.

Honorable Mention: Rodarius Williams, Oklahoma State

Round 6 | DJ Daniel, Georgia

Daniel joined Georgia in 2019 as a JUCO transfer. In two seasons, he recorded 51 total tackles, including three tackles for loss, and nine passes defended. Lost in the shuffle due to the presence of Tyson Campbell and Eric Stokes, Daniel still showed out in the secondary.

Daniel has an ideal build for the position at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds with plus length, smooth hips, and quick feet. He has the long speed and reactive athleticism, but needs to improve his play strength, especially in the run game. Overall, Daniel can grow into a high end contributor by Year 3.

Honorable Mention: Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas

Round 7 | Deommodore Lenoir, Oregon

Lenoir was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2019 and started 33 consecutive games. The 5-foot-11, 203 pounder recorded 158 tackles, six interceptions, 21 passes defended, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery during his Oregon career.

Lenoir is at his best man coverage using physicality at the line of scrimmage, good change of direction to stay in phase and good ball skills to break up passes. However, he does lack ideal long speed, needs to anticipate the ball better downfield and show consistent effort defending the run.

Overall, with growth in the areas mentioned above, you can expect to see him get more playing time further on into his professional career.

Honorable Mention: Bryan Mills, North Carolina Central

Jags Wire 2021 NFL mock draft: Post-Super Bowl LV edition

With Super Bowl LV over, the Jags are now on the clock and Trevon Moehrig is an option they should consider after the No. 1 overall pick.

The 2020 NFL season is officially over as the Tampa Bay Bucs became Super Bowl champions this past Sunday. That means the Jacksonville Jaguars are officially on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick.

After going 1-15, there clearly will need to be a significant addition of talent to the roster if new coach Urban Meyer wants to put together respectable results out of the gate. Of course, they will be able to add several veterans in March through free agency, but long-term answers could come from April’s draft.

With draft season officially starting late Sunday night, now is as good a time as any for our first 2021 NFL mock draft for the Jags. With the help of Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator, here’s a look at a full seven-round mock we completed for the Jags:

2021 All-Senior Bowl team

Who were the best prospects at each position in this year’s Senior Bowl?

Every year, the Senior Bowl provides prospects with an opportunity to test their mettle against some of the top competition in college football, hoping to impress NFL decision-makers heading into the draft.

Here are my picks for the best players I saw at every position throughout this year’s event in Mobile:

6 potential Chargers who stood out in Senior Bowl game

Which players caught the attention of the Los Angeles Chargers in the Senior Bowl game?

After a trio of practices, the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl concluded on Saturday with the annual all-star game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Here are six potential Chargers targets who stood out in the showcase:

Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State

I was fortunate enough to be able to interview Radunz just a couple of days ago. I spoke to him after three great practices. He carried that over to today, showing why he’s worthy of a top-40 selection in the game. Radunz was a brick wall in pass protection, displaying outstanding footwork, balance and anchor to handle both speed and power. In the running game, he executed multiple reach blocks and a high motor when working to the second level.

Creed Humphrey, OC, Oklahoma

Like Radunz, Humphrey carried the momentum of dominance into Saturday. After being used as a center and a guard, Humphrey exclusively played center, which is where he projects best at the next level. The former All-American showed great power and patience in pass protection and country strength in the running game, where he bulldozed defenders off the line to clear lanes. I wouldn’t be surprised if Humphrey doesn’t reach the third-round.

Cameron Sample, EDGE, Tulane

Sample didn’t receive a lot of buzz coming into this week, but based on how he performed in the practices and the game, I wouldn’t be surprised to be him be a top-100 selection. The 6-foot and 274 pounder was moving like he was 35 pounds lighter, winning with quickness and making plays away from the line of scrimmage, displaying great change of direction and a high motor. Not only that, but he showed great technique and power with his hands. Sample lined up both on the outside and inside. That versatility would come in handy for the Chargers.

Elerson Smith, EDGE, Northern Iowa

When I interviewed Radunz, he said one of the toughest pass rushers that he faced in college was Smith. The 6-foot-6 and 272 pounder put together a performance, showing why he was a challenge for Radunz. Smith used all of the necessary traits at the position to be disruptive; length, flexibility and athleticism. It carried over when rushing the quarterback and in the run game, where he made a nice play in open space for a tackle of loss.

Keith Taylor, CB, Washington

Taylor was one of the most consistent corners during the week of practices and he was today, too. Even though he allowed a short touchdown, displayed the athleticism, competitiveness and length to stay attached to receivers throughout the afternoon. He was stellar at turning and locating the football. As a result, Taylor had a couple of passes defensed. Given the fact that the NFL covets, long corners that can play press and run, he’s going to go high.

Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota

Another corner who is going to go a lot higher after today is St-Juste. St-Juste showed good play strength at the line of scrimmage, jamming receivers and consistently staying on their hip throughout the route, which led to two passes defensed. The 6-foot-3 corner was lock down and he utilized his 80¼-inch wingspan to his advantage. Both St-Juste and Taylor are capable of playing early on for the Bolts.

6 potential Chargers prospects who stood out from Day 2 of Senior Bowl

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez updates you on the prospects he believes received attention from Los Angeles on Day 2 of the Senior Bowl.

Day 2 of practices at the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl have officially come to an end.

After experiencing some rain, the weather held up a lot better in Mobile, AL.

There were a handful of prospects that stood out today, some of which capitalized on yesterday’s performance and a few that made their first cases.

With that being said, here are six players that shined who could be on the Chargers’ radar:

IOL Quinn Meinerz, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

The Senior Bowl is notorious for bringing in small-school prospects who show that the competition is not too big for them. This year, it’s Meinerz. The former Division III has lined up both at center and guard, where he’s been a wall in pass protection and a road-graded in the run game, putting defenders on the turf. Projected as a sixth/seventh-round pick coming into the event, Meinerz is making his case to be selected within the top-100 picks. Given the Chargers’ need up front, the team could benefit from Meinerz’s services.

OT James Hudson, Cincinnati

After not allowing a single sack and only giving up six total pressures this past season, Hudson has still gone under the radar. However, he’s making his case to be a solid mid-round selection come April. In the one-on-one drills, the former defensive lineman is showing off lower body athleticism, a wide base, aggressive hands and competitive temperament to stay square to rushers. Hudson’s technique is still a work in progress, but he has potential to be a high upside starter at tackle.

EDGE Elerson Smith, UNI

While Hudson and Meinerz shined, there were a few defensive linemen that got the most out of the guys up front, including Smith. Smith has all the necessary traits at the position; length, flexibility and athleticism. Today, he showed great usage to work inside of offensive linemen’s frames and the burst off the line of scrimmage. In 2019, Smith had 14 sacks, 22 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. The 6-foot-7 and 255 pounder is a guy that’s likely going to go on Day 3, but will exceed expectations early on.

DL Cameron Sample, Tulane

If the Chargers want someone who can affect the quarterback from multiple alignments, Sample is the guy. Lining up outside and inside, Sample was in the backfield on a consistent basis. He came in at 6-foot-2 and 274 pounds, Sample was moving like a guy 30 pounds lighter. Sample showed great change of direction, explosiveness and quickness off the line of scrimmage and quick hands to clear his frame. Sample is a player who could rise into the top-100 picks.

CB Keith Taylor, Washington

I’ve mentioned before, head coach Brandon Staley covets good defensive back play in his system. Taylor, the 6-foot-3 and 195 corner is someone who could intrigue. At his best in zone coverage, Taylor has also shown a great understanding of technique and understanding of routes in man coverage, sticking to some of the top wideouts down the field. Taylor didn’t produce any interceptions in college, but while Taylor has inconsistent ball skills to create turnovers, he displays the athleticism, competitiveness and length to stay attached to receivers.

CB Aaron Robinson, UCF

Robinson was another defensive back who made some eyebrow-raising plays. Coming in at at 6-foot-1 and 193 pounds, Robinson locked up receivers in one-on-ones, playing tough and physical at the line of scrimmage to affect the release and timing of routes. He also showed the speed and hip fluidity to turn and run with receivers after the initial press. Overall, he was super sticky all day. Robinson has shown the versatility to play outside corner, nickel corner, strong safety and outside linebacker.