Darrell Taylor: The sleeper EDGE of the 2020 NFL Draft

Strengths

The Vols Darrell Taylor is a physical freak in many contexts of the word. Not only does he boast an NFL frame, but his athleticism is obvious from the moment he steps on the field. Off the line of scrimmage, he displays exceptional acceleration. He has a habit of anticipating the snap perfectly and seems shot out of a cannon. But more noticeable is that burst is evident off the snap and in his containment of more mobile quarterbacks.

He has a unique feel to the game, understanding angles and playing intelligently on each down. Most likely due to his years of refinement with the Vols, he makes the smart play and is not merely looking for that highlight reel hit. He’s a consistent wrap up, secure tackler.

Most impressive, though, is how stellar he is with short-area quickness, lateral agility, and fluidity in his hips. He moves gracefully for such a muscular specimen, not seemingly too tight or stiff with his solid frame. He has great reaction timing and good quick-twitch play, and is quick to react on bootlegs and option plays. Taylor demonstrates solid bend off the edge, showing an ability to lean and keep his shoulder into opposing offensive linemen.