The draft is a flat-out tease.
It flirts with you for over a month and slowly builds momentum and then…BANG! It’s gone. Leaving you at the alter with nothing but a handful of thank you’s and dead flowers.
Yes, you have to wait until August to truly get your football fix on, however, I am going to tell you that the New York Giants have something to get excited about and his name is Cooper Taylor. I rarely get excited about new drafted players because they often turn into nothing right before your eyes, but there something about this guy that is different.
He’s real big, real athletic, real strong AND real fast.
At 6’4 228 lbs. He looks like a quarterback, yet plays free safety, box safety and potentially outside linebacker. Oh yea…he benched 225 23x and ran a 4.49 at his pro day. For you old school Giant fans this guy has the make up of one Brad Van Pelt and that is a very significant comparison. Taylor was a stand out at Georgia Tech before transforming to Richmond and most of the Giants brass feel that Taylor was a steal in the 5th round.
His athleticism is easily seen when he is in coverage. He can flip his hips and run stride for stride with a receiver and he isn’t afraid to come up and sting you. He was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome in 2009 that could have been some reasons why he slipped; however after a unique surgery to change the flow of the electrical beat of his heart he has been given a clean bill of health.
While the Giants have stock piled safeties, this pick has the ability to make an instant impact, including challenging Will Hill for the 3rd safety spot. Taylor has such a unique skill set that there has been some discussion of the 5th round pick playing outside linebacker.
If Cooper Taylor does move to linebacker he need not look any further than NY Giant tape room. Brad Van Pelt was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1973 draft. The 6’5 220 pound Van Pelt was voted the nation’s best defensive back, yet played a hybrid “monster back” position for Michigan. The 5x time Pro-Bowler went on to become a member of the one of the best line backing cores to ever play in the NFL.
The Crunch Bunch, was composed of Van Pelt, Brian Kelley, Lawrence Taylor, and Harry Carson.
If Cooper Taylor has half the career Brad Van Pelt had…he will join Jesse Armstead(round 8) as one of the greatest all time steals in the later rounds of the NFL draft.
Craig J. Santucci | Senior Editor Giants Rush