San Diego Chargers Select Brandon Taylor, S, LSU 2012 NFL Draft Grade
With the 73rd pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers have selected Brandon Taylor, S, LSU
Here is our report on Taylor:
Slightly undersized but a rangy safety prospect who is a willing tackler but not a great one, and a guy who can make plays in the defensive backfield. Taylor might not be a high draft pick, but he is going to bring a lot of prowess to a team in terms of intangibles and ability to contribute in so many phases of the game. He is a safety by trade, but can also play cornerback if called upon and can contribute on special teams. He is going to need to bulk up a bit for the NFL, but he is the type of guy who can be a really valuable mid-late round pick for a team.
Solid but not great speed and good instincts at the safety position, I rarely see Taylor out of place when you watch his games back. Got beat badly in the open field a few times against Trent Richardson, which happens to almost everybody, but it indicates to me that he’s going to take some work and is likely better in coverage than he is breaking down and helping out the guys in front of him.
Smart player who was really productive in college and a durable guy last year, one of only three LSU players to start all 14 games defensively. I think he could potentially start at safety someday but he is going to take some breaking in, for sure.
Pick Grade: B
The Chargers needed depth in their secondary, and they get one of the most productive players from the college ranks in Brandon Taylor, a leader of the LSU defense.