The safety position in the NFL is in a constant state of flux relative to its value — especially as more teams look for hybrid-type players. It wasn’t long ago we saw Jamal Adams get traded for first-round picks, despite being extremely limited in coverage and relegated to playing in the box. Yet, a true ball hawk who can line up across a secondary can turn a defense around.
Oklahoma State S Jayson Taylor II hopes to hear his name called in the 2023 NFL Draft. He may have to wait a while and may not hear his name at all. Here is everything you need to know about Taylor’s future prospects in his scouting report.
Jason Taylor II NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Safety
- School: Oklahoma State
- Year: Redshirt Senior
Taylor saw his real first playing time in college during his sophomore year. In 2020, he was a second-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree and played in all 11 games, rotating in on defense and playing special teams. In 2021, he was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by the league’s head coaches. He played in all 14 games and started the final 13.
Taylor was able to build on the big-play reputation he had already established with two game-changing marquee plays. The first was a field goal block at Boise State. With OSU leading 21-20 and only 2:09 remaining in the game, Taylor blocked a 36-yard field goal attempt to preserve the one-point win for the Cowboys. Prior to the block, BSU kicker Jonah Dalmas had missed only one field goal attempt in his career.
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The second play came at Texas when Taylor returned a second-quarter interception 85 yards for a touchdown, causing a significant shift in momentum as the Longhorns held a 17-3 advantage and had driven to the Oklahoma State 18-yard line in a bid to extend the lead.
Taylor became one of the most impactful players on OSU’s defense in his first season as a full-time starter. He made several highlight-reel, game-changing plays in his career. Outside of the defensive line, his 14 career starts ranked as the next-most on the Cowboy defense entering 2022. In 2022, Taylor continued to make big plays, totaling 99 tackles and six interceptions.
Tony Pauline’s Scouting Report for Jason Taylor II
Strengths: Productive run-defending safety who had a terrific senior season and then turned in an outstanding Combine workout. Aggressive, fires upfield, and takes good angles to the action. Easily changes direction and displays lateral speed and solid range.
Disciplined with assignments in center field and effective when facing the action. Tracks the pass in the air and possesses good hands for the interception. Instinctive and quickly locates the action. Wraps up tackling and brings ball handlers down on initial contact.
Weaknesses: Occasionally lines up over the slot receiver but isn’t quick flipping his hips. Stiff. Gets too amped up and misses tackles on occasion.
Overall: Taylor is a nice-sized safety prospect who performed much better than expected at the Combine and comes with an upside. He must polish his game, yet he moved from free agent prospect to late-round pick with his play and performance over the past nine months.
Jason Taylor II Combine Measurements and Results
- Height: 5’11 5/8″
- Weight: 204 pounds
- Arm: 32″
- Hand: 10″
- Bench Press: 14
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.50 seconds
Jason Taylor II Current Draft Projection
According to Tony Pauline’s Big Board, Taylor is the 22nd-best available safety, and the 257th-best available player, regardless of position. His grade of 3.28 lands him in the seventh-round range. This does not mean he will be drafted in the seventh round, but based on what Pauline saw on film, Taylor grades as a talent who has historically gone in the seventh round.
Taylor has a Relative Athletic Score of 9.30, which is considered “great.” He is a bit undersized for the position, coming in at under six feet tall and weighing just over 200 pounds. However, his explosion grade is “elite,” with an insane 43″ vertical. He lacks the top-end speed of the elite safeties but owns impressive burst into his 10-yard split.
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His athletic profile and propensity for ball-hawking make him a player many teams may deem worthy of extended development in the later parts of the draft. He has experience on special teams, which is a plus if you are projected as a late-round draft pick.
Nevertheless, it is most likely Taylor goes the undrafted free agent route to making a roster.
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