Scouting Report: Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

Ht: 6-3 Wt: 334 40: 5.18

Strengths: Elite size for a DT in the NFL. Extremely quick feet for a player his size. Has tremendous movement skills; for a DT at his size this is his best strength. Shows good awareness; he is able to recognize plays. Very strong; able to take on double teams (essential for 3-4 NTs). He dominates at times on film. Scheme versatility; he can be a 3-4 NT or 4-3 DT. Showed much improvement in his motor from last season.

Weaknesses: Needs to be more consistent in tackling. Weight will always be an issue for him. Conditioning and effort are concerns. Has off the field issues. Occasionally gets too high when engaged.

Summary: Phil Taylor really improved himself over this past year. He was once a middle round prospect and now he will most likely not make it out of the first round. He is a massive DT who has elite movement skills and strength. He does have some off the field issues that teams will have to do their due diligence on and his weight and effort will need to be monitored, especially when he gets his first big paycheck. However, despite some of these concerns, a player with his size and potential will not be on the board long on draft day. He will be a first round pick.

Draft Projection: 1^st round