Darrell Taylor: The sleeper EDGE of the 2020 NFL Draft
By Felix Davila
Weaknesses
Occasionally, Taylor seems late on the snap from the line of scrimmage, not reacting immediately, which diminishes his burst despite the athleticism he consistently shows.
He lacks consistency in his pass rush plan, and doesn’t seem to approach consistently with reaction nor counters to adjust on the fly. He hardly counters or swims inside, and is a frequent outside rusher despite his physique. Taylor also doesn’t maximize his length nearly as much. He’s too often seemingly stonewalled once the lineman gets their hands inside his chest and extends on him. He has to keep his chest clean.
For someone with good speed, he doesn’t convert speed to power consistently enough to garner first round hype at the moment. But what’s interesting is the potential that he brings. Darrell Taylor seems like a player destined for stardom if he finds himself with a solid defensive line coach that can instruct him better on building his pass rush arsenal and how to administer those moves constantly. Building that foundation can make Taylor a solid draft pick and even enhance his stock into the day one conversation.
Keep an eye on Darrell Taylor this April
Overall, he brings the effort and leadership to the table that good teams want. He’s a stellar workhorse of a player, bringing it on every down and not slowing up until the whistle blows. Despite his rawness as a pass rusher, such refinement is all that stands between him and influencing opposing offenses.
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Taylor’s name is not all over the media, and he’s still considered a dark horse high pick, as my colleague Seth Steere pointed out before the season. But come April, look for Taylor’s name to be called during the 2020 NFL Draft, and don’t be surprised if it’s called early.