Defensive Wrecking Ball: Leonard Taylor III

Miami Hurricanes’ Leonard Taylor III made a highlight tape in just six games this past season.

The defensive tackle (DT) was fun to watch. He did play a few reps off the edge, but he doesn’t project there at the next level because of his limited pass-rush arsenal and some noticeable tightness. However, I don’t want to sound like I’m being too negative here.

He’s a real handful.

Barring unforeseen injury during the 2023 season, there’s no question we will hear Taylor’s name called during the first-round on April 25, 2024.

Painting a picture with words

Taylor is a brute bully inside who is what I call a “people mover.” He was seen several times chucking large strong offensive linemen aside like they were rag dolls.

He loves to throw his weight around and play bumper cars inside with the big boys. Taylor is a physical and violent defender with an appetite for contact and making plays.

My kind of guy.

Taylor isn’t naturally explosive as he does have tightness in his hips, but what he does have is raw natural power that he puts on display on a regular basis.

He’s got a strong athletic cut frame and long arms and he gets after it.

Against the pass and the run

Normally when I make a “highlight reel” for over two minutes, it’s of a quarterback or a wide receiver, not a defensive tackle.

That’s how high-impact he is.

As they say in the league, “The game is won from the neck up,” as everyone is big or fast or both. There is absolutely no substitute for “want.” That’s what separates guys, and Taylor wants it. Even more so, he’s not just in it for the pass-rushing glory as it gives equal effort doing the dirty work against the run.

He adds value in another way as well.

Influencing plays

Taylor is a defender that offenses were constantly aware of last season as he drew his fair share of double-teams. Having the ability to draw double-team blocks potentially can free up other defenders to make plays.

Not to mention, like in the video illustration above even when he doesn’t get to the quarterback, there were numerous times he flushed him out of the pocket or on running plays when he crashed a gap, it influenced the back to go in another direction.

Taylor is a true difference-maker.

Value

With 29/32 NFL teams passing the ball more than 50% of the time, the first-round focus needs to be on passing the ball and stopping the pass.

Unless a defensive tackle can blow things up on passing downs, it makes no sense to ever take one in the first-round.

According to Fansided, as a true freshman in 2021, Taylor played in 200 snaps and generated seven pressures. However, last season, that number jumped to 329 snaps and 25 pressures.

As it stands today, this is exactly the type of prospect NFL teams should be targeting if they want to move the meter on defense.

#56 Leonard Taylor 6-foot-3, 305 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Summer 2023 Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 45.1 % of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of August 31, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game film reviewed (2022): North Carolina, Texas A&M, Southern Miss, Clemson, Virginia Tech, and Virginia (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 24 tackles (11 solo), 3.0 sacks and 25 pressures

Note: 10.5 tackles for loss last season

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tenacious athletic complete defensive tackle whose presence is felt when he’s on the field. Dominant rotational player. Attacks solo and double teams with brute force and sheer will. Can rock linemen. Compensates for a lack of twitch and explosiveness in his hips with raw natural awesome strength. Flashed spin and swim moves, but mostly nothing fancy. Technique on the raw side. Uses hands. More of a brawler who plays at a high pad level. Plows through linemen or slips into gaps with a lot of steam to create pressure. Against the run does a good job holding down his space as he fights to get to the ball carrier. Disciplined to assignments. Inconsistent shed. High-impact wrapping tackler.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Snap count increase?

2. Playing at a lower pad level?

3. Increase in sacks and pressures?

4. Better use of hands?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.