Draft analyst thinks Tennessee Vols defender will be a "great value" in 2020 NFL Draft
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jim Nagy, who also serves as the executive director of the Reese's Senior Bowl, sees something special in Tennessee Vols edge rusher Darrell Taylor. Nagy said on Wednesday morning that he believes Taylor will be a "great value pick" in the 2020 NFL Draft. Taylor signed with with Tennessee as a […]
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jim Nagy, who also serves as the executive director of the Reese's Senior Bowl, sees something special in Tennessee Vols edge rusher Darrell Taylor.
Nagy said on Wednesday morning that he believes Taylor will be a "great value pick" in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Taylor signed with with Tennessee as a four-star recruit in 2015. He was rated as the No. 14 weak side defensive end in the nation.
The Virginia native redshirted in 2015, before playing in only 14 games in 2016 and 2017 under Butch Jones. In Taylor's first two years on the field, he totaled three sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss.
Things changed, however, for Taylor when Jeremy Pruitt arrived to Knoxville in late 2017.
In 2018, under Pruitt's guidance, Taylor played in 11 and compiled eight sacks. In 2019, Taylor played in all 13 games and racked up 8.5 sacks and 46 total tackles.
There's no telling what Taylor could've accomplished at Tennessee had he played for Pruitt for the duration of his college career.
But because Taylor essentially got a late start on his development (thanks to Butch Jones), he'll likely fall a bit further than he should in the upcoming NFL Draft.
A recent mock draft from CBS Sports has Taylor going to the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 58 overall pick.
Taylor is probably a first round talent. So Nagy is right that a team is going to be getting a great value by selecting the former Vol.
Then again, competent edge rushers are extremely hard to find. Perhaps there's a team out there that has Taylor way up their draft board. It wouldn't be shocking to see Taylor sneak into the end of the first round.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
