7th round target: J.J. Taylor- RB – Arizona
Why would he be a good value for the NY Giants in the 7th round? Low man wins. Despite standing at just 5’5″, Taylor is one hell of a running back that makes life difficult for opposing defenses. For the G-Men, the All-American out of Arizona would be another receiving threat out of the backfield.
Taylor is one of those players that coaches love because of his toughness and how hard he plays. For Joe Judge, Taylor could return kickoffs and punts, and even spell Saquon Barkely if need be. The way Taylor runs with creativity, quickness, and aggression reminds me of Ahmad Bradshaw.
Y’all ever seen a 5-5, 185 pound RB with a truck stick like this? pic.twitter.com/zw6azqllxj
— Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) April 10, 2020
What does he excel at? J.J. Taylor may not get drafted because of his size, but he plays much bigger than his stature would indicate. The Arizona Wildcat runs with power, and does not provide much of a surface area to tacklers (low man wins!) He also brings a shifty running style to make defenders miss.
Despite weighing just 185 pounds, J.J. has a compact build to run through arm tackles. Another player comparison for Taylor is Darren Sproles. He is another versatile player that excels on kick returns.
Why the NY Giants might hesitate: J.J. lacks elite speed that NFL running backs his size usually possess. He would struggle if asked to pass protect and he has some durability issues as well.
Personal excitement level if drafted: (9.5/10) There isn’t a more fun player in the entire draft. I love how hard he runs and I think he can thrive in a James White type role in the NFL.
Player Comparison: Darren Sproles/Ahmad Bradshaw
Likelihood he will fall to the 7th round : (9/10)