Saints Draft Prospects: Miami Hurricanes Primed To Make A Big Waves In The NFL Draft

Once a college football powerhouse, these Hurricanes could cause a disturbance in this year's NFL Draft.

The University of Miami (Fla.) football program was a hotbed for NFL stars for over three decades. Such has not been the case in recent years, as the Hurricanes have often underachieved and haven't been relevant on the college football landscape. As a result, players from ''The U'' are also not highly regarded in the NFL draft.

Miami, coming off another disappointing 7-5 finish, does have a few players that should garner some attention in this year's draft. Three of them are at positions of need for the New Orleans Saints. Safety Kamren Kinchens was previewed earlier by the Saints News Network. The other two Hurricanes are who we take a closer look at today.

Leonard Taylor III, DT - Miami (Fl.); 6'3" & 303-Lbs.

Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III (56) pressures Virginia Tech quarterback Grant Wells (6)

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Leonard Taylor III came to the University of Miami as a five-star in-state recruit out of Miami Palmetto Senior High School. He showed why he was such a prized recruit immediately, recording two sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss as a freshman in 2021. In 2022, he was even better in leading the Hurricanes with 10.5 tackles for loss while adding three sacks.

Expectations for Taylor entering 2023 were sky high. Unfortunately, he and the Hurricanes each fell well short of those expectations. His performance and statistical production both regressed, resulting in just one sack and 3.5 tackles for loss among 19 total stops. Rather than stay in school another year, Taylor surprisingly declared for the NFL Draft.

Taylor has both the size and agility coveted in an NFL interior lineman. Possessing good quickness and drive at the snap, Taylor can gain immediate advantage over blockers. He combines that with excellent upper body power to stand up blockers against the run and push pass pockets backwards.

A quick-twitch athlete that flashes disruptive capabilities, Taylor has a decisive swim move to penetrate backfields in an instant. He's shown the ability to process plays quickly and is able to disengage from blocks efficiently in lateral pursuit.

Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle Leonard Taylor (56) makes a stop against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

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Extremely inconsistent, Taylor gets knocked off his feet too often because of poor body control. He has a tendency to pop upward at the snap. This allows blockers to easily gain leverage advantages. His poor leverage will often eliminates his power rushes or results in him getting pushed out of position against the run.

Measurables, awareness, and the potential Taylor showed early in his collegiate career make him a tantalizing prospect. However, the production has simply not matched the talent.

Still, it's that talent and potential that will likely cause a team to select Leonard Taylor III sometime in Day 2 of the draft. Whatever team that does so will be taking a gamble with a relatively high pick on unrealized potential. But it's a gamble that could pay off handsomely for the team that takes it.

Taylor has a far less heralded teammate on the offensive side that could turn out to be a late-late-round gem.

Javion Cohen, G - Miami (Fl); 6'4" & 324-Lbs.

Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Javion Cohen during a 2024 Senior Bowl practice

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Javion Cohen played his first three years at Alabama before transferring to Coral Cables last year. He showed nice potential with the Crimson Tide, even with some noticeable issues in pass protection. Once at Miami, Cohen added quite a bit of weight. It noticeably affected his quickness, which had been his best attribute.

Cohen certainly looks the part of an NFL guard, with formidable strength and quick feet for a big man to match. He has the necessary power to move defenders around for the running game and set up a strong interior pass pocket.

Possessing outstanding awareness, Cohen expertly uses angles to wall off defenders and efficiently spring plays on the second level. His agility allows him to get outside effectively as a puller or lead blockers on screens. He also has the long arms to redirect inside pass rushers and the footwork to react to interior stunts and blitzes.

Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Javion Cohen during drills at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

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Cohen struggled with consistent pass protection throughout his collegiate career. He has the ability, but had issues with footwork and leverage. He'll also need to be far more decisive as a drive blocker for the running game.

Above all, Javion Cohen must regain the agility and quick feet he exhibited early in college at Alabama. If so, that combined with his size and power would make him a sneaky-good late draft pickup.