Jason Taylor S Oklahoma St
by Drew Boylhart • April 2, 2023
STRENGTHS
Jason is a highlight film every time he plays the game. He is a playmaker and can play multiple positions on defense as a deep safety, a box safety, and also as a linebacker or slot cover safety depending on the match-up. He is always around the ball because of his high football IQ, leadership skills, and instincts to make the big play. He shows the hands to make the interception like a slot receiver. He is an excellent tackler in the open field or close to the line of scrimmage in fact he might be one of the best tacklers in this draft. He literally comes out of nowhere (stealth-like) to tackle players or intercept the ball, like Jason in a Friday the 13th movie. Jason understands angles and this makes him more productive and impacting than most others who are faster than him. Add to that skill set his size, speed, burst to the play, high football IQ, multiple positional talents, and playmaking talent and you tell me if you think he could be a fit to play on your favorite NFL team.
CONCERNS
Jason doesn’t have the cover skills most teams are looking for in their safeties but he can outplay those that do. Jason is a 4.5 guy and teams early in the draft will select players with more speed and this will affect his draft status along with the lack of value most teams put on the safety position. Of course, Jason’s 10 yd split was 1.52 and that is as quick as most RB’s and equal with a lot of the corners in this draft.
BOTTOM LINE: 1.67
Coming off a knee injury the year before, Jason played multiple positions on defense at all three levels this year and wound up with 80 solo tackles, and 6 INT’s. Think about that. That being said, Jason has not faced the talent at the quarterback position that he will face at the next level but still, six interceptions are pretty impressive.
Jason is 1st round talent you get to select in the later rounds of the draft and the reason Rob and I invented the two-board system 18 years ago. We also introduced to the other Draftniks the “value” of a position and how it affects the draft status of a player and Jason is a good example of that. Jason played in the Senior Bowl and was invited to the Combine and he still might not be selected at all. He has excellent size, excellent athletic talent, and the production to back it up his talent, and he still, might not get drafted at all. You just never know so, keep an eye out for him. Jason’s position and 4.5 speed make him a late pick in this draft but his play on the field will make him a core player, a fan favorite, and even a pro bowl selection in the future. At least that’s what I see.
