2020 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers 7-round mock draft
By John Newman
player. 858. Running Back. Memphis. Patrick Taylor Jr.. 198. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
In 2017, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner to serve as a sort of contingency plan at the running back position. This was when the Steelers were unsure if Le’Veon Bell would remain with the team after the 2017 season.
As it turned out that insurance plan turned out to be a good investment. Bell refused to play under the franchise tag in 2018 and Conner made a name for himself in his absence, earning 12 touchdowns in 2018. But 2019 was a down year for Conner, as injuries limited him to just four touchdowns in 10 games. Conner will be an unrestricted free agent after 2020 and he is unlikely to see a huge contract with the Steelers.
Patrick Taylor from Memphis may not be the most recognizable name in the 2020 NFL Draft, as he was limited to just six games in 2019 due to an ankle injury. But his 2018 stats show a runner with potential, scoring 15 touchdowns and racking up 1,012 rushing yards.
Taylor would fit the typical mold of running backs the Steelers like. Taylor is 6-foot-1, 217-pounds, similar to Bell (6-foot-1) and Conner (6-foot-2). His size allows him to bully defenders, allowing him to gain yards after contact and serve as an extra blocker for the quarterback on passing plays.
Patrick Taylor Jr had a big game in Darrell Henderson's absence in the Birmingham Bowl, despite the final result for Memphis pic.twitter.com/2wlrN8pUhN
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 26, 2018
His 2018 film shows an impressive running back with NFL potential. Built like an Olympic athlete, Taylor does a lot of technical things well on film. He falls forward while being tackled, he follows his lead blocker well, he can build up speed once he hits the open field. In 2018, Taylor had 16 receptions for 196 yards and one touchdown (Sports Reference), making him useful as a receiving option. An important skill for running backs to have in the NFL.
As the running back position continues to lose value in the NFL, more and more teams will be looking towards late-round running backs to replace older, more expensive “workhorse” running backs. The Steelers may want to keep Conner past 2020, but considering his injury history since joining the team in 2017, general manager Colbert may want to consider adding another big running back in the 2020 NFL Draft.