So You Drafted Garrett Taylor...

The Skinny

After redshirting his true freshman season in Happy Valley, Virginia native Garrett Taylor was a regular in Penn State’s secondary over the next four years. Since the 2016 season, Taylor played in 51 of 53 possible games for the Nittany Lions.

His first two years on the field were rather quiet, spending most of his time as a backup safety. But over the 2018 and 2019 seasons Taylor saw his production step up as he became a starter. In 2018, Taylor was third on the team in tackles with 71 tackles, he also recorded 2.5 tackles for a loss, three interceptions and 10 pass deflections.

This past season, Taylor recorded another quality season with 84 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, one interception, and three pass deflections.

What You’re Getting

All in all, whichever team drafts or signs Garrett Taylor will be signing a player who could have value down the road as a good special teams contributor and possibly with the right coaching staff develop into a depth safety. While he doesn’t have superb athleticism and isn’t trem

Additionally, Taylor is smart both on and off the field as he’s well represented with four Academic All-Big Ten selections over his five years at Penn State.

Taylor may have been a player who could’ve upped his stock with a quality pro day but like many borderline prospects was a victim of the Coronavirus pandemic in that aspect. He has a good skill set and good set of intangibles but still has a lot to put together and will have to get by with not having elite athleticism.

Bottom line, Taylor is a signing that wouldn’t look like much on paper and may not be the most exciting undrafted free agent signing but is someone who could find himself on a 53-man roster. Penn State safeties have had success in transitioning from State College to the NFL and Taylor could be the next in line to have that success.