Darrell Taylor is the answer to the Seattle Seahawks anemic pass rush
Ed Stein
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Edge rusher Darrell Taylor was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2020 draft. He will terrorize NFL quarterbacks for years to come with his freakish abilities.
The Seattle Seahawks pass rush was terrible last year, putting up an NFL second-worst 28 sacks in 2019. That won’t happen again in 2020 as the team invested heavily in pass rushers during the offseason.
Bruce Irvin (2012–2015) and Benson Mayowa (2013), who both began their NFL careers with the Seattle Seahawks, signed free agent contracts to return to the Emerald City. Additionally, General Manager John Schneider drafted two edge players in the most recent NFL Draft. He started with Darrell Taylor from Tennessee in the second round, then picked up Alton Robinson out of Syracuse in the fifth. Of the four, Taylor can become the go-to pass rusher Seattle desperately needs.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I graduated from the University of Tennessee and follow the Volunteers very closely. I have seen Darrell Taylor play for the Big Orange many times. Even I was surprised when he was chosen 48th overall by Seattle. Most mock drafts had him pegged as a third or fourth-round pick.
Taylor has plenty of talent that has never been at issue. Last year he led UT with 8.5 sacks. How and when he uses his skill set is a different story. Getting off the snap quickly and reacting to play-action are also areas in need of improvement. Fortunately, those are problems that are correctable with hard work and coaching.
A freak
It’s the things that aren’t coachable, which makes Taylor so unique. When it comes to his physical attributes, the word “freak” comes up often. Starting with a body that Lance Zierlein of NFL.com described as “chiseled out of granite,” Taylor is physically strong. He can set an edge and hold it. On film, very rarely did quarterbacks get outside of him.
Taylor fits the bill of a “freak” athlete who is naturally strong and put on about 10 pounds between his junior and senior seasons without losing athleticism or speed. He explodes off the line of scrimmage, whether he is being used as a stand-up linebacker or having his hand on the turf as a defensive end. – Nick Lee, Sports Illustrated
In addition to holding offensive tackles at bey, what drives his opponents nuts is how explosive he is when set in motion. His ability to turn the corner might be the second-best in his draft class, behind second overall pick Chase Young. Once free from his blocker, Taylor closes on the quarterback like a lion attacking a wildebeest.
Taylor is crazy explosive and a speed demon off the edge — that is evident. But what a lot of people don’t realize is how powerful he is at the point of attack. Taylor uses his 4.5 speed and effortlessly converts it into power, utilizing his length and strong upper body. – Jonah Tuls, The Draft Network
Taylor has the physical strength and talent to be an elite pass rusher, but his game is very raw. What he does best on the field is natural. The areas where Taylor has to improve will be ironed out through coaching, reps, and film study. A loose analogy is: Taylor is the complete six-pack of Coca-Cola. All six cans are there and taste great, but the plastic thingy that keeps them all together needs help.
The 2020 season belongs to Irvin; he’s the stopgap. Taylor can watch and learn behind a real pro. Look for the native Virginian to establish himself as this season progresses, with an eye towards making his mark in 2021.