There were not many linebackers in the 2020 draft that are better overall athletes than Eagles rookie linebacker Davion Taylor.
Only two linebackers turned in a better 40-time than the 4.49 Taylor turned in. He had the fourth-best broad jump among the linebackers, fourth-best 3-cone time, sixth-best shuttle time and 11th best vertical.
Add everything up, and there is no denying the Eagles have a special athlete on their hands in the 6-foot, 228 pound Taylor.
Now, it is time to get him ready to play — and that starts with teaching him the complexities of the linebacker position in the NFL.
"Learning the defense as a whole," Taylor said when asked what he needs to work on the most this offseason. "One thing I did at my community college was, they made it set up so I really just knew what I was doing, and the person beside me. Now, I have to learn a whole defense…I am welcoming it. I want to learn the system and I want to learn more about football."
Part of the reason the adjustment to the NFL could be slightly more difficult for Taylor than other rookies is his overall lack of time actually playing football. Although he was on the football team in high school, Taylor — a Seventh-day Adventist — played in just one game during his high school career since he observed Sabbath from sundown on Fridays to sundown on Saturdays. With most high school games on Friday night, Taylor was sidelined for almost his entire high school season.
Taylor adjusted his religious beliefs after high school, and as a result, was able to play for two years at Coahoma Community College. From there, his football journey took him to Colorado, where he was a star player and got his first extended action at a high-level of football.
Taylor showed enough potential to turn those two years into being selected in the third round. He totaled 129 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, two sacks and six pass deflections in 24 games at Colorado. One of the reasons he went as high as he did was the potential he showed as a coverage linebacker.
"That is one of my greatest strengths, my coverage on tight ends and running backs," Taylor said. "This past season I think I improved dramatically…Even though the tight ends and running backs are on a different level at the NFL, I think I'll be prepared just because I covered slot receivers at the D1 level, and I think a lot of slot receivers are quicker than a lot of running backs and tight ends in the NFL, so I think I'll be ready."
While the Eagles have improved with their coverage against tight ends and running backs, mostly using a safety when needed, there is no denying they could use some linebackers who could cover as well. The best option on the roster is currently Nate Gerry, but outside of Gerry, Taylor might step onto the roster and already be the second-best coverage linebacker on the team.
Although his status as a third-round pick essentially guarantees him a roster spot, his special-teams ability will likely guarantee him dressing on gameday. Taylor has been in virtual meetings with special teams coach Dave Fipp this offseason, working (or in this case, learning) with both the punt and kickoff units.
"I am going to try to get on every special teams," said Taylor. "What makes me a great special teams player is I am relentless when it comes to going down the field. When it comes to kickoff or punt, or mostly kickoff for me because that is my favorite one, I try to be the first one down the field like it is a race to the ball. I treat it like that every single down, even if it is in practice."
Taylor is a good enough athlete to be an impact player on special teams right away. The question is how soon will he be ready to be make an impact on defense. Because once he can, in a league that is moving more-and-more towards athletic, coverage linebackers, Taylor could be a major boost to the team's linebacker unit.
"I am still raw, I still have so much more to learn," Taylor said, "and I know the more I learn the better I will become."
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
