Where does Taylor Mays fit with the San Francisco 49ers?
By Editorial Staff
Where does Taylor Mays fit with the San Francisco 49ers?
Taylor Mays was one of the most talked about draft prospects this year. Mays wows people with his physical gifts but has drawn criticism in other areas of his game. These concerns lead to Mays slipping to the 2nd round in April’s NFL Draft. The 49ers selected Mays with the 17th pick in the 2nd round and many were shocked he fell so far. So now that he is with the 49ers where does he fit?
Mays has the size and speed to play both the strong and free safety positions. He is a heavy hitter and is able to read run plays from his safety position. Some have questioned his pursuit angles, which resulted in a few missed tackles. In coverage Mays has the speed to stay with receivers and also react on balls in the air. He possesses rare recovery speed which allows him to overcome mistakes in coverage. The knock on Mays is that he doesn’t read routes and quarterbacks well, which often results in Mays being out of position. So what position will Mays play in the NFL?
Michael Lewis was the starting strong safety last season for the San Francisco 49ers. He is outstanding in run support and has been a great leader for this team. However, Lewis is starting to show signs of aging and his lack of top end speed is an issue. While Lewis supports the run, he is a liability in pass coverage. Strong safety might be the best early season fit for Taylor Mays. This position plays to Mays’s strength while allowing him time to learn the coverages. His physical skills will help cushion the impact of his weaknesses. The issue I see here is that Mays and Lewis both struggle in coverage, so how much of an upgrade will Mays be?
Currently the best option at free safety is Dashon Goldson. Goldson, a former college cornerback, is still transitioning to his new position. He has made strides but many have reservations on Goldson being the long term answer at the position. I question if Taylor Mays is ready to play this position in the NFL. His biggest weakness is reading offenses, which is one of the main responsibilities for a free safety. There is no question that Mays has the physical tools to play the position but he needs to improve in the mental part of the game.
So where does Mays fit? In my opinion he would best be utilized at the strong safety position. He needs time to learn the ins and outs of reading offenses. He could use his physical abilities to be an intimidating force. What are your thoughts?