Trey Taylor NFL Draft Profile
- College: Air Force
- College Position: Safety
- Ideal NFL Position: Safety
- Height/Weight: 6'0", 210 pounds
- Year / Age: Fifth Year Senior / N/A
- Draft Projection: Seventh round / UDFA
- Where I'd Take Him: Seventh round
Background
One thing I enjoy doing each NFL Draft season is trying to find those diamonds in the rough that may get overlooked by other pundits. Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has shown that he loves players with a good story, and Trey Taylor fits the mold of a player Poles might fall in love with.
A three-star recruit by 247Sports, Taylor committed to Air Force, where he didn't log a game in his first two seasons for the Falcons. During these two seasons, Taylor added 20 pounds and bulked up from 185 pounds to 205 pounds. After getting the starting nod for the Falcons in 2021, Taylor proceeded to start 36 of a possible 38 contests.
Taylor, a cousin to Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed, had his best showing in 2023 as he contributed 71 tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups, and a defensive touchdown. His season was so strong that he was awarded the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back, becoming the first Falcon to ever capture the honor and only the second Air Force player to win a major college football award.
Taylor was named third-team All-America by the Associated Press, another honor he was the first to bestow for the Falcons since Weston Steelhammer (awesome name) in 2016.
Strengths
- Former running back, has an excellent feel for angles when pursuing ball-carrier
- Plus coverage skills: on 356 coverage snaps, only 1 TD and 47.0 passer rating allowed
- Beloved teammate and player; both coaches and teammates rave about his attitude and work ethic
- Willingness to play the run and is an effective blitzer
- High football IQ
- Immediate contributor to special teams at NFL level
Weaknesses
- Sometimes gets lost in zone coverage
- Struggles to fight through offensive linemen
- Fifth-year senior makes him an older prospect, will likely need time to adjust to the speed of the NFL game
- Not the most fluid of movers in coverage, can play a bit upright
Final Thoughts and Chicago Bears Fit for Trey Taylor
Taylor seems like the type of player Poles would salivate over at the end of the draft. Well-decorated and a true leader, he reminds me of a defensive version of Roschon Johnson. His teammates adore him, and he's willing to do whatever it takes so that his team can succeed.
Taylor's zone technique (a cornerstone in Matt Eberflus' defense) needs to be coached up and improved, but he'd provide valuable insurance behind Jaquan Brisker. Brisker, who has missed time in his first two seasons in the NFL because of concussions, consistently plays with a fire that opens himself to being dinged up. Taylor would be an excellent depth piece who could fill in for Brisker while also playing a pivotal role on special teams.
Pro Comp: Adrian Amos
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