As the 2022 NFL draft draws nearer with each passing day, we are in the full swing of completing our annual evaluations on the upcoming class of prospects.
With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely.
Today, I am taking a look at Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor.
Alontae Taylor | Tennessee | #2 | Senior | Manchester, TN | 6000 | 196
40-yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Career: Former consensus top 10 recruit in Tennessee. Recorded 162 tackles, four interceptions, and 15 pass breakups in 44 games. Arrived on campus as a wide receiver before making the switch to defense his freshman season.
Red Flags: None
Strengths: Big and strong frame that can blockade the receiver in close proximity. Stays grounded during contact and generates force with his long reach. By earning his keep at the line, Taylor showed he didn’t need elite long speed to carry receivers downfield. Deployed in a variety of coverages as a permanent outside cornerback for the Vols. Good processing when the action is in front of him, allowing him to make timely breaks on the ball. Enjoys the competition aspect of the sport and is eager to hit. Makes his presence known in the run game with good pursuit angles and hard-striking blows. Is able to separate himself from blocks and out-leverage his defender to alter the course of the ball.
Weaknesses: Start-stop ability needs hard plants and major shifts of weight, delaying his burst to the ball. Difficult for him to redirect his explosion and short-area agility suffers. His cushion in off-man coverage is inconsistent and often leaves too much space in front of him to contest the play or aid in bringing down the target. Gambles when reading the quarterback, leading to more spacing issues in zone coverage.
Final Word: A well-built, broad player whose thirst for playmaking and resounding hits dominates his tape, Alontae Taylor exhibits the mentality and measurable foundation to challenge NFL receivers as an outside cornerback. Taylor’s game relies on his instincts to fire in coverage and his makeup to keep his assignment suppressed. Due to his slower change of direction and processing skills, his future projects to be in a zone-heavy scheme.
Fit Likelihood: Low
Grade: 5th
Film Highlights
Taylor displays his violence and appetite to contribute in run support.
Alontae Taylor being a straight up bully in run support pic.twitter.com/vz6ClmHO8n
— Austin Burlage (@Austin__Burlage) September 27, 2020
Taylor reads the eyes of the quarterback and bolts ahead of the throw for the pick-six.
No idea what Will Levis was doing here, but Alontae Taylor sure did. pic.twitter.com/322OuNASej
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) November 7, 2021
