2020 NFL Draft: Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor scouting report
By Ian Higgins
Speed vs. Quickness
Unless the running back in question is among the world’s best, there will be a trade-off between their acceleration in the hole and their breakaway speed. In more depth, acceleration is better for hitting holes on the interior and meeting linebackers at the point of contact, whereas top-end speed is best for getting to the edge and beating exterior defenders to the corner and turning the play upfield for big gains.
As a power-runner at 214 pounds, Taylor is not going to be excessively explosive in either his quickness or top speed. As a power-runner, quickness is more valuable than speed but neither is going to ruin a power-runners draft stock. Taylor does possess the quickness to hit holes and beat linebackers to the punch, which is invaluable as a power back.
When hitting the C-gap and breaking out into the open field, Taylor is capable of breaking the play open but is by no means going to be considered a burner. Out of high school, Taylor ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at 208 lbs and has shown a similar level of speed in his time at Wisconsin. This explosiveness on the outside leaves the opportunity for designed C-gap runs in an NFL system.
Taylor may not be the quickest or the fastest in the 2020 NFL draft, but he is more than capable of competing against NFL defenses.