PFF scouting report: Taywan Taylor, WR, Western Kentucky

Name: Taywan Taylor

School: Western Kentucky

Position fit: Wide receiver

Stats to know: Led the nation with 948 receiving yards on deep passes in 2016.

What he does best:

• Excellent downfield threat as he has exceptional playing speed and can take the top off a defense.
• Knows how to read defenses and coverages and adjusts his routes to take advantage of what the defense does and to find the coverage’s soft spots.
• Can work the middle of the field in traffic as he is not afraid of contact and can absorb hits right after catching the football.
• More physical than what his size would suggest and therefore presents a rare speed-physicality combination.
• Uses his quickness well both during route-running in coming out of his breaks and also when the ball is in his hands after the catch.
• Has an excellent first step against press coverage and gets immediately next to the defender where he can win with speed.
• Plays his best when it matters the most as he put together his best performance in the Conference USA Conference Championship Game.
• Solid showing in 1-on-1 drills during Senior Bowl practice.

Biggest concern:

• Has inconsistent hands and body catches passes, which leads to drops and occasional double catches.
• Does not seem to be physical enough at the catch point to win contested catches on a consistent basis.
• Often has difficulty adjusting to off-target throws.

Bottom line: Taylor brings shifty route-running and good acceleration to the NFL, so he should be able to separate and provide a valuable weapon in the passing game. He’s not great at the catch point, and he can have trouble adjusting to off-target throws, but Taylor is coming off a productive career at Western Kentucky and he his deliberate route-running style is a good fit for any offense.

DOMINATE FANTASY FOOTBALL & BETTING WITH AI-POWERED DATA & TOOLS TRUSTED BY ALL 32

Unlimited Fantasy League Sync

Fantasy Start/Sit Line-Up Optimizer & Waiver Wire

WR-CB & OL-DL Matchups, PFF Player Grades, & Premium Stats 2.0 Tools

Nathan Jahnkes Rankings - #1 Most Accurate Last 70 Weeks

PFF Best Bets, Player Props, & Power Ranking Tools

NFL Mock Draft Sim with Trades & Draft Grades

Subscribe now

Already have a subscription? Log In