Sean Taylor

It’s hard to ignore someone as athletic as Taylor. It’s also hard to believe that in two years in the NFL, he has yet to finish a season in the year-end top 20. Taylor is the classic head case. Forget that he narrowly escaped possible jail time by pleading down assault charges this spring. It’s not his only brush with the law, so at the very least he’s making bad off-field choices about with whom and where he hangs out. If you can put aside all of that, there are still problems on the field. He’s undisciplined, lacks tackling technique and shows many of the tendencies that drew LaVar Arrington into calamitous conflict with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. But he’s still worth considering on draft day for his size (6-2, 232), strength, sideline-to-sideline range, speed, fluidity and versatility. He can pass rush. He can cover and pick. He can tackle. He can get involved anywhere he wants. It’s a long shot to think he’ll stop butting heads with, well, seemingly everyone, to learn how to control his game and be more productive, but don’t think any football player doesn’t learn with experience. What he’s already doing is fantasy worthy. Imagine what happens if he takes the next step.

Taylor endured a tumultuous rookie season, some of which was his own fault. Surprisingly, he didn’t start at free safety from Week 1, but took over the mantle in Week 3 and occupied the spot from there on out once Matt Bowen went out for the year. By Week 4, Taylor had gotten his sea legs in the league, and he piled up 57 solo tackles in the next 12 games. He was suspended for one game in late October after a drunk driving arrest, but was eventually acquitted of all charges in the offseason. A holdout from voluntary workouts in the offseason in an attempt to renegotiate his contract didn’t earn him any friends in the front office, but he’s expected back with the team by training camp. A punishing hitter, Taylor also has the speed to run with receivers and height to go up for free balls. One caveat: At press time, Taylor was facing a felony charge of aggravated assault with a firearm and a second charge of battery. As a result, he has been excused from the rest of the team’s offseason meetings and practices, and his status heading into the season is unclear. Keep an eye on this, and drop him 10 spots if his status is still unclear at the start of training camp.

This guy has stud written all over him. Taylor will begin the season as the Skins' starting free safety, and at 6'2" 231 with great speed, reminds many of the 6'0" 235 Dallas Cowboy safety Roy Williams. It's yet to be determined how much defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will rush Taylor out of the secondary, but otherwise you can expect Williams-like numbers out of the rookie in 2004.