Tag: levonta taylor

Rams waive undrafted rookie DB Levonta Taylor

Taylor signed as an undrafted free agent out of Florida State this year.

The Los Angeles Rams were busy after the 2020 draft signing rookies who didn’t get selected, but they’ve been forced to move on with many of them already. The team continued to trim its roster Tuesday, announcing that it has waived rookie defensive back Levonta Taylor.

Taylor signed as an undrafted free agent out of Florida State after playing both cornerback and safety for the Seminoles.

The Rams waived four other undrafted rookies earlier this month, getting the roster down to 80 players. Each NFL team will have to cut its roster to only 80 players by Aug. 16, so the Rams are getting ahead of that deadline.

Taylor made 65 tackles and had four interceptions at Florida State, playing 35 games across four seasons.

Dolphins showing interest in Florida State defensive back prospect

Dolphins showing interest in Florida State defensive back prospect

The current focus for the Miami Dolphins is centered around what the team is going to decide to do with their early picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. Rightfully so, too. The team has three first round picks and six in the first 70 selections between next Thursday and Friday nights. But the Dolphins also are scheduled to make 8 selections on the third day of the 2020 NFL Draft — a great opportunity to uncover some hidden gems and steal some quality contributors in the later portions of the NFL Draft.

Where might we see the Dolphins look?

The secondary is a good place to start. Miami’s defensive tendencies indicate this team is going to use a lot of defensive backs, so having a plethora of options and players to run out on a weekly basis will be a huge plus. The NFL’s expanded active rosters makes this an even more appealing proposition, as the teams will now also be granted two extra roster spots, so the Dolphins will have the chance to stash an extra defensive back along the way.

So expect to see the Dolphins be players in the market for Day 3 defensive backs. The team has reportedly shown some interest in a Florida production recently — Florida State’s Levonta Taylor. Taylor was a big time prospect a few years back before a back injury impacted his play on the field and prompted him to return to Florida State for his senior season.

But Taylor wasn’t quite able to find the momentum and reignite his draft stock and is not considered a potential late round target. The Dolphins sniffing around makes sense, this is a player who has had exposure to both cornerback and safety throughout his career with the Seminoles. That level of versatility is likely to appeal to coach Brian Flores as the team looks for combative, position flexible defenders. So yes, continue to focus on what the Dolphins’ plan of attack is with their early picks — but don’t sleep on the potential impact of some of these late round selections along the way as well.

Report: Panthers FaceTime with 3 cornerback prospects

The Panthers need to double up at cornerback in the 2020 NFL draft if they’re even going to pretend to be competitive at the position.

The Panthers need to double up at cornerback in the 2020 NFL draft if they’re even going to pretend to be competitive at the position.

Good news: over the weekend, it was reported that the team has held video meetings with three different 2020 cornerback prospects. Here’s a review of who they have spoken with and how they might help Carolina’s defense.

Stantley Thomas-Oliver III: FIU

Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

According to Jourdan Rodrigue at the Athletic, the Panthers held a video call with Thomas-Oliver. He started out his college career as a wide receiver, playing one game as a sophomore and catching one pass for four yards. He took off after converting to cornerback his junior year and was voted second-team all-conference in 2019. Thomas-Oliver is an outside corner who is still raw and is projected to be a late Day 3 pick.

College stats: 2 INTs, 18 PD, 65 solo tackles, 7 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FF

Measurables: Six-foot, 192 pounds, 4.48 second 40 yard dash, 34 inch vertical, 127 inch broad jump, 31 1/8 inch arms, 74 5/8 inch wingspan

Highlights:

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Report: Packers express interest in Florida State CB Levonta Taylor

The Packers are one team interested in Florida State cornerback Levonta Taylor, a potential late-round pick.

The Green Bay Packers are one of the teams doing some digging on a potential late-round cornerback prospect.

According to Jordan Reid of The Draft Network, the Packers have expressed interest in Florida State cornerback Levonta Taylor, a former five-star recruit who played both cornerback and safety and intercepted four passes over 26 starts with the Seminoles.

Brian Parsons of WAVY-TV in Virginia also reports the Packers have been in contact with Taylor during the pre-draft process.

Taylor is small (5-8, 176) and wasn’t invited to the combine. Although the Packers usually stick to rigid thresholds in terms of size in the draft, they’ve shown flexibility when it comes to college free agency. Taylor is considered a potential priority free agent by Dane Brugler of The Athletic.

From Brugler’s draft guide: “Overall, Taylor is a twitchy athlete with versatile experience, but his lack of size, discipline and consistency will make it tough for him to lock down a roster spot.”

What do teams like about Taylor?

“They say they love my toughness, mental toughness. Me being a smaller guy, I go out there and compete, just being a dog on the field,” Taylor told Parsons.

Taylor played in 44 career games at Florida State, amassing 90 tackles, 14 pass breakups, 5.5 tackles for losses and four interceptions.

Unable to meet with teams face-to-face or hold an official pro day affiliated with Florida State, Taylor posted this video of him running the 40-yard dash at an individual pro day:

The numbers provided by Taylor claim he ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds.

Jags amongst teams interested in Florida State DB Levonta Taylor

The Jags are eyeing a former five-star recruit from FSU to potentially join their secondary via the draft.

Many fans were elated to know of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ interest in cornerback Cameron Dantzler of Mississippi State as the team needs some serious help at the position. Now, it appears they’ve spoken with a familiar face to the area in Florida State’s Levonta Taylor, per Jordan Reid of the Draft Network.

Taylor, 22, was a five-star recruit for the Seminoles, however, his tenure with them didn’t quite go as well as many had hoped. Injuries especially affected his time with the Noles as he sustained a back injury before the 2018 regular season and missed eight games with a knee injury in 2019. Still, he managed to fight through adversity and accumulated 65 career tackles, four picks, and 10 pass breakups.

The good thing about Taylor’s time with the Noles was that he got a chance to show his athletic ability and versatility, playing both safety and cornerback over the course of his for years there. That’s likely the key element of his game that caught the Jags’ eyes the most as they could use competition and depth at various spots in their secondary.

Draft analysts believe Taylor could be a Day 3 selection, which works in the Jags’ favor if they want to draft him. Of their 12 picks, they have eight Day 3 selections, including three fourth-rounders and two fifth-rounders.

At 5-foot-10, 190-pounds, safety could be an option for Taylor in the NFL. He also has the size to play in the slot and could be an option to take D.J. Hayden’s place down the road as he will be playing on the last year of his deal in 2020.

2020 NFL Draft: Giants could target these Day 3 prospects

With the 2020 NFL Draft just around the corner, here’s a look at several Day 3 prospects the New York Giants could target.

There’s not much to do these days except analyze the upcoming NFL Draft and what we’ve done here is line up some possible Day 3 candidates for the New York Giants.

In both of the scenarios below, the Giants did not land Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons. In the first scenario, we passed on him at No. 4. In the second, he was gone before the Giants were on the clock.

Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

Using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator, here’s how the 2020 NFL Draft played out for the Giants.

Day 1

  • Round 1, Pick 4: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Analysis: Wirfs is a versatile, athletic lineman the Giants sorely need. They have a lot invested in Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley and they need some talent up front to help stabilize the trenches.

Day 2

  • Round 2, Pick 36: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
  • Round 3, Pick 99: Nick Harris, C, Washington

Analysis: Queen would be a steal here and more than make up for passing on Simmons in the first round. Queen next to Blake Martinez in a 3-4 would be a nice tandem. Harris is a down-and dirty interior lineman cut from the Richie Seubert cloth. Giant fans will love him.

Day 3

  • Round 4, Pick 110: Julian Blackmon, S, Utah
  • Round 5, Pick 150: Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
  • Round 6, Pick 183: Antoine Brooks Jr., S, Maryland
  • Round 7, Pick 218: Calvin Throckmorton, OT, Oregon
  • Round 7, Pick 238: Carter Coughlin, LB, Minnesota
  • Round 7, Pick 247: Levonta Taylor, CB, Florida State
  • Round 7, Pick 255: Mitchell Wilcox, TE, South Florida

Analysis: Blackmon is a pretty good fourth round find. I feel he’d start for the Giants right away. Hodgins was a sleeper, but his name has been rising. Not sure he’ll be around at No. 150. Brooks is a physical safety the Giants will find many uses for. Throckmorton would have to excel in camp to make the roster, but he’s got some ability. The final three players are all boom or bust types, but are all good athletes with solid football acumen.

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10 Combine snubs the Lions should keep on their radar

Identifying 10 players from the 2020 draft class that were not invited to the NFL Combine but should still be on the Detroit Lions radar.

The NFL has released the 2020 NFL Combine participants list, and despite it containing 337 players, there were a few notable names not invited to Indianapolis for the event.

Just because a player didn’t receive an invite doesn’t mean the NFL isn’t still paying attention to them. Last year, players such as David Blough, Kevin Strong, and C.J. Moore were not invited to the 2019 NFL Combine, yet still earned a spot on the Detroit Lions active roster and contributed in significant ways throughout the year.

Here are 10 players who were snubbed from the 2020 NFL Combine that should still be on the Lions radar.

Reggie Corbin, RB, Illinois

After a 2018 season that saw him average an astounding 8.5 yards per rush and eclipse 1,000-yards rushing, Corbin saw his production drop in 2019, which likely let to him being left off the invitation list.

Corbin’s (est. 5-8, 201) speed, ability to set up defenders, and natural lateral movement skills are all easily at an NFL level, which makes him a perfect candidate for a team that uses a running back by committee approach. If the Lions don’t retain J.D. McKissic, Corbin could be a potential replacement.

Tavien Feaster, RB, South Carolina

Feaster (est. 5-11, 222) played three years at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina ahead of the 2019 season. With solid straight-line speed — especially for a back his size — and the ability to catch passes out of the backfield, there should be some appeal from NFL teams who are looking for a bigger third-down back.

Kevin Dotson, G, Louisana

Dotson (est. 6-4, 324) will likely be the first player drafted who wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, potentially even in the third or fourth round. Dotson is a powerful interior offensive lineman who is a force in both the run and pass game, earning a spot as an AP first-team All-American and grading out as Pro Football Focus’ top interior offensive lineman.

The Lions are familiar with the Ragin’ Cajuns’ program — they drafted Tracy Walker from there in the third round of the 2018 draft — and met with Dotson at the East-West Shrine game last month. He’s firmly on their radar.

Tyler Clark, DL, Georgia

Georgia’s scheme gives Clark (est. 6-3, 289) the needed 2-gapping experience — nose tackle John Atkins came from the same program — and his body-type, ability to shed defenders and get into the backfield makes him a candidate for the Lions’ big defensive end role. That spot is currently occupied by Da’Shawn Hand and the aforementioned Kevin Strong, but the Lions will be on the lookout for more depth on the defensive line.

Bravvion Roy, NT, Baylor

Speaking of defensive line depth, Roy has nose tackle size but is more of a pass rusher than anchor at the 0-technique. He brings a different style of play than what the Lions have in Damon Harrison and Atkins, but there’s some appeal to having a player like him in the rotation.

Mike Danna, EDGE, Michigan

A favorite of PFF from his time at Central Michigan, Danna (est. 6-2, 257) earned a 27-percent pass-rushing rate with the Chippewas, but he saw his play drop off a bit in 2019 playing in the Big Ten and in a rotational role along the Wolverines’ deep defensive line. In the NFL, Danna will likely begin his career as a pass-rushing specialist with upside and special teamer.

TJ Brunson, LB, South Carolina

Brunson (6-1, 219) was one of only two players to participate in the Senior Bowl, yet not receive an invite to the Combine. He is undersized for the Lions scheme, but his aggressiveness and ability to be physical against the run could earn him a role on special teams. If the Lions decide to move on from Miles Killebrew, Brunson could be a player who could compete to fill the vacancy.

Levonta Taylor, NB, Florida State

Taylor (est. 5-10, 186), a former 5-star recruit, was a big get for the Seminoles out of high school, but injuries and inability to stay at one position have impeded his draft stock. In the NFL, Taylor won’t fit every scheme, but for the Lions, he would fill a developmental nickel corner/safety role.

Jared Mayden, S, Alabama

Mayden (6-0, 201), the other Senior Bowler not invited to Indianapolis, is a reliable tackler capable of playing on defense as a corner/safety option in the slot but his path to the NFL is likely on special teams where he shined in college.

Myles Dorn, S, North Carolina

Dorn (est. 6-1, 198) is a rangy defender who can play deep as well as in the box. His game is drenched in aggressiveness, instincts, high energy, and is a reliable tackler which will make him a natural special teams player in the NFL.

4 NFL Draft replacements for potential Saints salary cap casualties

The New Orleans Saints face tough salary cap cuts, opening the door for cheap replacements through prospects picked in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The New Orleans Saints are headed for an offseason full of difficult decisions, and they’ll struggle to address all of their needs even if the 2020 salary cap reaches the high-end estimates of $200 million. Some players will restructure or renegotiate contracts — we previous discussed four big candidates — but others could get released outright.

If the Saints go that route, here are several potential replacements in the 2020 NFL Draft. We’ll be focused on prospects available in rounds two through four, because the Saints will probably be targeting a position of greater need with their first-round selection.

Potential loss: CB Janoris Jenkins

Salary cap savings: $11.25 million

Replacement: A.J. Terrell, Clemson

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Terrell hasn’t made a decision yet on whether he’ll declare, but he’s someone the Saints should keep an eye on even if “Jackrabbit” does stick around for 2020. Terrell is an accomplished man-cover corner who can run with anyone, even if Ja’Marr Chase won that matchup in Monday night’s national title game (and it’s not like Terrell was the first cornerback Chase beat this season). There isn’t a team in the NFL that has enough cornerbacks, and the Saints should be mindful of that with so many pending free agents at the position.

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