Chargers head coach Brandon Staley doesn’t draft players to fill roster holes and check boxes on his defense.
Staley wants players that will check multiple boxes, contribute in a variety of areas, and possess several countermeasures in order to blanket any evolving look the offense throws at his unit.
Versatility isn’t just a premium for the Chargers under Staley. It’s a requirement.
When examining these criteria, the dots connect regarding the team’s selection of Wake Forest defensive back Ja’Sir Taylor in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. Taylor played in 62 games (a school record) during his five-year career, notching 184 tackles, six interceptions, and 24 pass breakups over that span. Taylor also demonstrated a formidable presence on special teams as a kick returner – he averaged 26.3 yards per return in 2021 and took a 99-yard kickoff to the house against Old Dominion.
He escaped widespread national recognition in a stacked class for his position, but steady improvement of his stats throughout his time with the Demon Deacons, strong pre-draft showcases, and solid testing (most notably a 4.39 40-yard dash) caught the eye of the Bolts.
Before draft night, the Bolts were all-in on getting to know Taylor. They held a private workout for him, flew him out for a visit, and were in constant communication with him over the last few months. The interest was mutual, so much so that before he had even received the phone call, Taylor already felt like he was in power and blue.
“I envisioned myself there after my visit,” Taylor said in an interview with The Chargers Wire. “I started looking at what picks they have on their roster, just watching videos on the team and their culture. I felt like going into the draft, I was already a Charger. When they gave me the call, it was all full circle.”
With the contract signed, minicamp complete, and OTAs underway, Taylor’s integration into the defense has begun. The Chargers’ defensive back room should be in stark contention with the league’s best, with cornerbacks J.C. Jackson and Asante Samuel Jr. joining forces to erase outside threats while punishing safety Derwin James keeps the vertical passing game honest over the top. That leaves an opportunity for Taylor to support at the nickel back position, a spot he confirmed will be his primary focus for the team.
“I won’t hinder myself by saying I’m only a nickel,” Taylor said. “I have to learn both and whatever opportunity opens itself up first, I’ll do it.”
Taylor’s game is naturally opportunistic and several of his interceptions display an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time to make a play on the ball. Taylor is able to read offensive structures, traverse the field for key position in his coverage, and track the ball to its final destination for the takeaway. He gets his eyes on the quarterback and fluidly multitasks between his assignment and the developments in the pocket to get a jump on the play.
It’s all a testament to preparation and observation of the details that repeat themselves on the field and on tape.
“A lot of that comes from film study to be honest,” Taylor said. “Just recognizing sets, formations, little things about the receivers. Playing football is all just a child’s game. It’s something I’ve been playing since I was little and it’s all about just going out there having fun, trusting your preparation and technique, and plays will happen.”
Life on the gridiron has taught Taylor that even the most subtle nuances of football can give away an offense’s game plan. He looks for those and identifies which behavior can give him a slight edge.
“Some receivers will lift their foot up and change their stance or mechanics based on if it’s a run play or a pass play,” Taylor said. “Whether it’s tightening up their gloves, spitting on their gloves, jogging off the ball, their approach to the down-and-distance. You don’t want to think too much, but some of those clues and hints pop up if you’re right on it.”
It helps when a player is as sure-handed as Taylor, who played the other side of the ball all the way up until the moment he arrived at Wake Forest. Taylor ran track in high school, so naturally, his skill set suited the slot receiver and running back roles where the offense could get the ball in his hands and let him separate from defenders. Taylor said the knowledge gained from his offensive background and overall athleticism has translated immensely to his defensive coverage.
“I really wasn’t picturing myself as a defensive player until I got to Wake Forest,” Taylor said. “Knowing that division from both sides and what the offense is going to do contributed to my learning for sure.”
Taylor also expects to contribute heavily on special teams, which he views not only as a way to make an early impact for the team but also consistently create good field position for quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense.
“Flipping field position with punts, electric returns, just setting up momentum,” Taylor explained, “It is a big game-changer throughout the flow of the game that a lot of people don’t realize.”
With a boatload of receiving talent in the AFC West to match up against, Taylor is most excited to take on one of its newest albeit prestigious members in Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders. However, his reps against Hunter Renfrow in college have also left an impression and hunger to compete.
“He has a green light to just get open,” Taylor said. “His routes are unorthodox. He finds small spaces to sit down. He turns it back up. He’s just all over the place. And it’s a great challenge because he has that flexibility and freedom to just go out there, get open, and find spots in zones and man coverage. I feel like that’s a great challenge to go up against.”
Adjusting to the NFL is a challenge for any incoming rookie, but Taylor’s strong work ethic, electric athleticism, and a sharp-eyed perspective on football suggest he will adjust quickly to Staley’s expectations and be a positive presence for the Chargers when his number is called.
