This is interesting. The New Orleans Saints plan to host Oklahoma State safety Jason Taylor II on a visit ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, per KPRC 2 Houston’s Aaron Wilson. Taylor led the Big 12 in interceptions (6) last season and is one of college football’s best ballhawks, with 19 career passes defensed the last two years. He’s started 27 of the 54 games he played in college, including 26 of his last 27 appearances.
He also nails the physical prototype the Saints value at defensive back, carrying his 204 pounds well with a 5-foot-11.5 and 32-inch arms (for a 78.2-inch wingspan). He moves really well and plays smart football, and didn’t draw a single penalty flag on 2,496 career snaps on both defense and special teams, where he ran with five of the six kicking units. Missed tackles were an issue for him but he’s aggressive in run defense, and that’s something the Saints can work on with him.
Taylor looks like an ideal third-day pick between rounds four and seven. He’ll make an immediate impact on special teams while offering depth at safety. He’s played all over the field for the Cowboys with 400-plus snaps in the slot to boot. Between his college experience, playmaking ability, and Relative Athletic Score (8.9), he looks the part of a Saints draft pick. We’ll see where he ends up.
