The Chargers have added some experience to their secondary, opting for Wake Forest cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor with the No. 214 overall selection.
Taylor was the Demon Deacons’ career leader in games played with 62 over five seasons, bursting onto the scene with five passes defended as a true freshman. For his career, Taylor racked up 184 tackles with 8 for loss and 1 sack, 6 interceptions, 24 pass deflections, 3 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble.
At 5’11” and 188 pounds, Taylor is a bit undersized for a boundary corner. He makes up for that lack of size with elite lateral movement and burst – both his three-cone drill and 10-yard split were above the 80th percentile for the cornerback position. Those quick feet and oily hips aid him as a sticky man coverage corner. He also has experience in the slot, where the Bolts have a need, and as a kick returner.
Taylor struggles at times with his anticipation in coverage and lacks functional strength as a tackler, which will likely push him inside as a pro. His 4.47 speed will be a stellar asset on special teams, where he can serve as a returner or gunner at a high level. That’s likely to be his role as a rookie as a replacement for Ryan Smith, who the Chargers chose not to retain after an injury limited him in 2021.
While special teams will be his focal point, Taylor’s twitchiness as a coverage man could get him an opportunity on a Chargers defense that struggled with the slot corner position a season ago. I don’t think Taylor is ready to take that leap yet, but his extensive experience in a Power 5 conference should fast-track his development compared to other players with similar draft positions.
