The Other Cornerback

[ForJimmy]

Jaycee Horn obviously has a lot of us excited about having a potential shutdown CB and rightfully so. He checks all the boxes. However there was another CB with nice size and ability drafted in the 5th round... I’m talking about Keith Taylor (obviously), a potential 5th round steal. Let’s take a look at our new GM’s first year as Seattle’s Director of College Scouting in 2011 and what they found in the 5th round.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2018/02/28/a-look-at-richard-shermans-scouting-report-from-the-nfl-combine/amp/
 

A CB with good size and ability that was still raw and “could contribute as a backup in press man coverage.” I’m not saying that Taylor will be the next Sherman, Sherman is one of the most intelligent CBs to play the game IMO. However the guy that helped find a player with his ability at the same position just took a player that is also 6’3” 195 in the same round. If he can develop into a “Sherman-Lite” just imagine how great our secondary can be (especially with our pass rushers).

Here is a video highlighting Taylor’s strengths and weaknesses (he was a 5th rounder so obviously there are weaknesses). Tackling is a weakness, but the eagerness is there. He pursues and shoots the gap, but needs to work on his lower body strength to finish the tackle (very coachable). Top end speed is another issue, but with Horn and Jackson he doesn’t need to cover the fast guys. There is also a mention of moving him to safety, but he looks best when we is pressing in man coverage, similar to Horn. Here is to hoping Fitts can repeat his success that helped turned the Seahawks into one of the league’s best secondaries!

[jfra78]

Suddenly one of weakest units have become one of deepest.  There is a lot of competition there.

[BlitzMonster]

I'm not so sure about Taylor.  His RAS scores are pretty mediocre including a 4.54 40 time.  At that stage in the draft you take it but it's not great.

Also his 0 interceptions in his college career questions whether he has the ball skills to succeed at the next level. 

We'll see if the Panthers staff can make the most of Taylor's length & coach him up to be a productive DB in the NFL.  

[Ja Rhule]

Josh Norman 40 yard dash was 4.6 I believe.  He did ok in the NFL. Bradberry was 4.5.

Edited May 23, 2021 by Ja Rhule

[kungfoodude]

Just now, Ja Rhule said:

Josh Norman 40 yard dash was 4.6 I believe.  He did ok in the NFL.

It may limit your scheme flexibility somewhat. Norman was primarily his most effective in zone.

I don't think 4.54 is enough to limit him but I don't think his ceiling is any higher than Troy Pride was. 

Taylor is one of those guys that might end up in the rotation or he might be off the team in a year or two. But, he was a fifth rounder, so even sticking around on special teams is not bad.

[AndrewLaskoski]

5th round pick + a DB from UW is a risk I’ll accept every draft. 

Great fraternity of DBs with NFL success out of Washington. 

[Newbie]

After watching the practices and Senior Bowl game I really wanted us to draft him. The draft sites I use had him projected as a 3rd or 4th rounder. 

[BlitzMonster]

7 minutes ago, Ja Rhule said:

Josh Norman 40 yard dash was 4.6 I believe.  He did ok in the NFL. Bradberry was 4.5.

There will always be exceptions but you generally want your CB to have some speed.   

One of the criticisms I have read about Taylor is that he gives too much cushion to receivers, which might be his own recognition that he lacks overall speed.   Which seems odd since he did some track work in high school where he ran some decent times (low 11's for the 100 meters).  Maybe getting bigger, heavier since HS has slowed him down a bit ?  

[ForJimmy]

23 minutes ago, BlitzMonster said:

I'm not so sure about Taylor.  His RAS scores are pretty mediocre including a 4.54 40 time.  At that stage in the draft you take it but it's not great.

Also his 0 interceptions in his college career questions whether he has the ball skills to succeed at the next level. 

We'll see if the Panthers staff can make the most of Taylor's length & coach him up to be a productive DB in the NFL.  

There is definitely weaknesses in his game currently. He doesn’t need to be insanely fast with Horn and Jackson capable of matching up against the speedy WRs. He has the size and personality to have a good amount of potential. I’d like to see him at CB, but worst case scenario is he provides competition for our safeties. Not terrible for a 5th round pick! 

[BlitzMonster]

16 minutes ago, Newbie said:

After watching the practices and Senior Bowl game I really wanted us to draft him. The draft sites I use had him projected as a 3rd or 4th rounder. 

For me, the biggest plus for Taylor is that the Carolina coaching staff saw this kid first hand at the Senior Bowl practices.    Even though he was on the opposing team, they still did some drills with him and would have had the chance to talk with him often.  So I trust if the Panthers saw something in Taylor, he was worth drafting.

As to Taylor's expected draft position, the NFL had him with a 5.50 grade, which is for end-of-the-roster / practice squad guys.  So not that positive.  

NFL prospect page

Edited May 23, 2021 by BlitzMonster

[ForJimmy]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/catcrave.com/2021/05/21/carolina-panthers-expect-keith-taylor-jr-2021/amp/
 

Some more thoughts on him.

[45catfan]

I mocked him a bunch to us, usually in the 6th round.  So yes, I would like to see this young man do well.  If he can learn to tackle better and hold on to those potential INTs, then he should stick around. 

Corners that don't tackle well irk me.   We already have Donte "shoe-strings" Jackson. Taylor Jr. needs to refine this skill set sooner rather than later.

[BlitzMonster]

With his size I thought maybe Carolina was considering Taylor as a potential FS.   But you generally want ballhawks in that position, as well as guys with excellent speed.   Taylor doesn't fit either of those qualities.   So I'm not sure how he'll be used.  

[ForJimmy]

6 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

I mocked him a bunch to us, usually in the 6th round.  So yes, I would like to see this young man do well.  If he can learn to tackle better and hold on to those potential INTs, then he should stick around. 

Corners that don't tackle well irk me.   We already have Donte "shoe-strings" Jackson. Taylor Jr. needs to refine this skill set sooner rather than later.

That’s fair. The CBs that worry me are the ones who are afraid of contact. Taylor pursues and looks to want contact, just needs to increase his lower body strength and technique which are both coachable/trainable.