Generally speaking, teams are pretty lucky to get any sort of contribution from a rookie sixth-round draft pick.
So, the Chargers were probably already pretty happy when Ja’Sir Taylor carved out a role as a core special teamer and the team’s best punt gunner early in the season.
They were probably even happier when Taylor started to see the field on defense and held his own.
Happy enough that they sat Asante Samuel Jr. in favor of Taylor in run defense situations late in the season, at least. Happy enough to let Bryce Callahan, a solid addition a season ago, walk in free agency, where he remains as of mid-July.
Now, Taylor seems to control perhaps not all of his destiny heading into 2023. To open the season, things will be simplest if JC Jackson isn’t ready to play following his torn patellar tendon last season. In that scenario, Samuel and Michael Davis will be the starters on the outside, with Taylor in the slot and Jackson in the training room.
But Jackson seems closer and closer to returning every time a new clip of him surfaces. If he is ready to go, how does the cornerback rotation break down? LA certainly isn’t going to put Jackson on the sideline, not with as large as his contract is. Davis earned a starting job with his play in 2022. Samuel has been up and down but could benefit from a move inside to the slot. Such a move bumps Taylor out, however, and it seems as though the coaching staff trusted Taylor more than their former second-round pick late last season.
Regardless of what you want to call him – the starter in the slot, CB3, CB4, whatever it may be – one thing is clear: Taylor is going to see the field more in 2023.
Contract: Taylor is in the second season of his 4 year, $3,792,012 rookie contract with a $132,012 signing bonus signed in 2022. Base salary of $870,000 with a prorated bonus of $33,003 for a cap hit of $903,003.
Acquired: Drafted in the sixth round and 214th overall in 2022 out of Wake Forest.
Quote: Defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley on Taylor’s mentality:
“He’s mature past his age. He’s a very quiet kid, very observant. He understands the big picture. He’s working hard, just like how the other stars are working hard. That is going to be an interesting battle once we get to camp.”
Highlight:
Incredibly savvy play by Ja'Sir Taylor to block his man into the returner and essentially win his team the game pic.twitter.com/PlpkdheBxU
— Sully Engels (@sullyengels) October 18, 2022
