NFL Draft Profile: Jason Taylor II, Safety, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Jason Taylor II
Oklahoma State Cowboys
#25
Pos: S
Ht: 6000
Wt: 204
Hand: 1000
Arm: 3200
Wing: 7828
40: 4.50
DOB: 12/30/1999
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
High School: South Hills
Eligibility: 2023
One Liner:
Taylor is a special teams ace who thrives on his physicality and instincts, but he doesn’t possess a well-rounded coverage profile.
Evaluation:
Taylor took official measurements at the NFLPA Bowl. He’s 5117 and weighs 208 lbs. He has 9 5/8-inch hands, 33-inch arms, and a 78-inch wingspan. Taylor has special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units. He lined up in the slot, box, and traditional two-high alignments at Oklahoma State. The redshirt senior has excellent arm length and confirmed his explosive athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine. He displays ideal closing burst. Taylor had terrific ball production in his final season with the Cowboys. His ball tracking skills are impressive. Taylor is physical at the catch point to force incompletions. He’s at his best when allowed to sit back and survey the whole field. The former three-star recruit anticipates where the ball is going and recognizes route combinations. He reads the quarterback’s eyes and has the speed to undercut routes. Taylor is instinctive, with a natural feel for where the ball is going. He comes downhill and lays big hits in run defense. Taylor doesn’t shy away from contact but could show more urgency and take better angles coming downhill. He occasionally slips off tackle attempts or is dragged for yards after contact. He’ll often stop his feet too early and then dive low at the ball carrier’s legs, missing the opportunity to make a stop. Taylor is an older prospect who lacks impressive short-area agility and change-of-direction skills. He doesn’t have the sideline-to-sideline range or the ability to mirror sharp cuts in coverage. The Oklahoma native is a better linear athlete than an all-around agile player. He gets pulled downhill by play-action or ball fakes, leading to big plays over the top. Taylor sometimes approaches man coverage assignments flat-footed. He lacks the coverage profile to handle slot receivers or athletic tight ends.
Grade:
6th Round
Background:
Jason Taylor II became one of the most impactful players on OSU’s defense in his first season as a full-time starter. Outside of the defensive line, his 14 career starts rank as the next-most on the Cowboy defense entering 2022, and he ranks No. 5 among all active FBS players entering 2022 with three career non-offensive touchdowns. In 2021, he played in all 14 games and started the final 13. Taylor finished as the fifth-leading tackler on the team with 48 tackles, including 37 solo stops. He also filled up the season stat sheet with 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. He received 2021 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (Coaches). In high school, Taylor was a three-star prospect according to Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports
