The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that may very well be chosen by the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the 2023 NFL draft.
Darnell Savage, Tariq Carpenter, and James Wiggins are the one safeties beneath contract for the Inexperienced Bay Packers and it’s a place that Brian Gutekunst will possible handle early and fairly presumably usually within the 2023 NFL Draft.
A participant that Inexperienced Bay’s common supervisor may goal on day three of the upcoming draft is Jason Taylor II. The Oklahoma State security checks in at No. 79 within the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
🚨ROSTER UPDATE: Jason Taylor II has formally been added to @seniorbowl American workforce. Measurements from final week’s NFLPA recreation: 5117v, 208v, 9 5/8, 33 1/4 arm, 77 1/4 wing. #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/wbgdwpbTnn
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) February 2, 2023
After enjoying totally on particular groups, Taylor grew to become a full-time starter for Oklahoma State in 2021. Taylor responded with 48 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, one landing, and 6 move deflections.
This previous season, Taylor recorded 99 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, and 13 move deflections.
“Taylor had a very robust season,” Scott Wright, the Oklahoma State soccer author for The Oklahoman stated. “He was enjoying with nearly solely new starters round him at linebacker, security, and cornerback. He was the anchor of the again seven. His reliability was important to the success of the protection.”
The Oklahoma State security is all the time the place he’s alleged to be on the soccer area. He’s a extremely instinctive participant that has a present for making big-time performs in crucial conditions. Most not too long ago, he pressured a fumble on a touchdown-saving deal with through the NFLPA Bowl. In 2021, Taylor blocked a game-winning area aim try in opposition to Boise State. He had an 85-yard pick-six in opposition to Texas and he returned an onside kick try by Texas Tech for a landing.
25 days till Cowboy Soccer! Our first of two #25’s is redshirt senior Jason Taylor II. Jason blocked a kick at Boise to avoid wasting the sport for the Pokes. He additionally turned the sport round at Texas with the longest Cowboy decide six since 2001! #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/BGBLErulcQ
— Pokes Uni Watch (@PokesUniWatch) August 7, 2022
“He simply appears to all the time be across the ball in essential conditions,” Wright stated. “Sport-changing touchdowns on fumble and interception returns. A blocked area aim within the last minute. This previous season, it was late-game interceptions that sealed wins in opposition to Baylor and Texas. Second, I’d say his versatility is vital. He can play near the road of scrimmage or deep security or wherever in between.”
Taylor is a good-sized athlete at 5-11, 208 kilos. He trusts his reads, which permits him to get a head begin and takes correct angles to the soccer. As a result of his excessive soccer IQ, Taylor all the time finds himself across the motion. Whereas not a blazer, Taylor reveals satisfactory vary.
“He’s fluid and has good instincts,” Wright stated. “He strikes with and adjusts to receivers nicely. I’m curious to see what his 40-time can be on the mix. I’m unsure he’s essentially blazing quick in that setting. I feel his shuttle instances can be extra spectacular.”
Throughout his last season in highschool, Taylor caught 42 passes for 800 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense, whereas selecting off 9 passes on protection. Throughout his two years as a starter at Oklahoma State, Taylor confirmed off these ball abilities with eight interceptions and 19 move deflections. He sniffs performs out together with his instincts and is bodily when the ball arrives.
“His ball abilities are glorious, and there are two actually robust qualities that contribute to that,” Wright stated. “For one, he has actually good fingers. Some folks thought he could be a receiver popping out of highschool. Moreover, he reacts nicely and may regulate to the ball when it’s within the air.”
Jason Taylor II with the stick. The Oklahoma State has loads of STs expertise, excessive soccer IQ, dependable open area tackler.
He completed this previous season with 87 tackles, two TFL, 6 INTs and seven PDs. pic.twitter.com/1wGhcxQuLH
— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) December 15, 2022
Taylor is a keen participant in run help. He’s not a bodily tone-setter. He doesn’t fly downhill like Bob Sanders. He’s simply all the time going to be across the motion and for probably the most half, restrict chunk performs.
This previous season he was flagged for 17 missed tackles, a quantity that shot up because of the Oklahoma State security battling a shoulder damage, in accordance with Wright.
“Total for his profession, he was a fairly efficient tackler,’ Wright stated. “This previous season, he had a shoulder and arm damage that led to a few huge missed tackles that may most likely pop up on video because the scouting course of performs out. However the abundance of proof suggests these had been anomalies.”
Throughout his time at Oklahoma State, Taylor logged 536 particular workforce snaps. That particular groups expertise may assist Taylor make an instantaneous impression as a rookie.
Match with the Packers
Adrian Amos is a free agent. Savage is within the last yr of his rookie deal and sure received’t be re-signed. The Packers have to rebuild the security room at 1265 Lombardi Avenue.
Taylor may make an instantaneous impression on particular groups and supply high quality depth on the security place if he doesn’t earn a beginning position as a rookie.
“Not solely is he a man who may add depth at any security place, however he additionally isn’t afraid to play particular groups,” Wright stated. “He’s a team-first man who’s keen to do what he can to get on the sphere and contribute. He performed particular groups all through the early a part of his profession and saved serving to on the market after he grew to become a starter in 2021. He’s a superb locker room man and the type of participant you need round your program. I’m not saying he’s going to have the identical sort of impression that former OSU linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez had as a rookie at Detroit this season, however Taylor is reduce from the identical mildew.”
The Packers improved on particular groups this previous season, which isn’t surprising since they may not have gotten any worse. A part of that’s as a result of Gutekunst poured sources into including gamers that had a historical past of contributing on particular groups. He added Carpenter on the third day of the draft final season and Carpenter grew to become one in every of Inexperienced Bay’s particular groups aces down the stretch.
Taylor may take the identical path as a rookie. The Oklahoma State security has particular groups expertise and will assist Inexperienced Bay proceed to enhance on particular groups whereas vying for enjoying time on protection.
The third day of the draft is all about looking for hidden gems and whereas Taylor could by no means blossom right into a star, he has a fairly protected ground as a employed gun on particular groups.