Scouting Report: Mays is a remarkable physical specimen. He's got an impressive physique, long arms, and is just a knot of muscle. Mays is also a tremendous athlete. He has impressive straightline speed and quickness and is an intimidating shadow on the football field. Also on the plus side, Mays is a devastating hitter, and is stout in run support. He's a player with a ton of experience, has played against top level competition, and has been very productive. On the other side, Mays looks completely out of sorts at time, especially in pass coverage, and alone in space. He takes poor angles to the ball, gets flipped in coverage and shows sloppy technique. His ball skills are well below average and hasn't really shown that he has much room for growth at the next level. In other words he may have tapped out his potential.
Draft Status: Some team is going to fall in love with Mays triangle numbers and draft him early. How early will depend on how soon the Oakland Raiders are drafting. Mays is a pure SS prospect, run support only, meaning a two down defensive back. That's not first round pick to me, but as I said Skeletor will see this kid run in shorts, and trade up to no.1 just to be sure they get him. In all seriousness, the shortcomings in his game should push him down but i doubt he falls out of the first round. May need to work out as a linebacker, if he wants to improve his status.
Final Analysis: I went into the season expecting big growth and development from Mays in terms of his sloppy technique in coverage, poor tackling, and just overall mediocre skill set outside of run support But it hasn't happened. And I don't know if it will happen. Seems that Mays is what he is. And that may mean he has to move to linebacker where his shortcomings in coverage would be minimized. But in order to do that he's going to have to learn to take much better angles, and become a much better form tackler.
Reminds me of: Roy Williams, SS Cincinnati- These two guys are so alike it's scary. Williams carved out a nice career for himself, which always having it hang around his neck that he couldn't cover. The same will hold true for Mays. In fact I'd cut to the chase while he's young and make him a weakside linebacker right off the bat, before he gives up too many long touchdown passes.
"sloppy technique in coverage, poor tackling"
Above statement is ALL POOR COACHING.
With Respect I wish SOMEONE would take a stand on Taylor Mays. Is he a BUST Or a Pro Bowl player?
Everyone is hedging because they are affraid to be wrong but at the same time they have no problem slamming him
HE WILL BE A PRO BOWL PLAYER. A Jet would be my guess & many teams will be sorry they passed on Mays.
Chad Jones is not even trying, he's playing Baseball & when this 2 sport D1 star gets locked in you will see 7 is to low.
Nate Allan & Myron Rolle will be the overrated bust of this Safety class. I like your site & hope you respect a different point of view.
