The Unpacking Future Packers countdown is a countdown of the 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft.
With Darnell Savage Jr., Jonathan Owens and Rudy Ford all set to hit the open market this offseason, Green Bay Packers You will need to invest heavily in a safety stance. Even if the Packers choose to re-sign one of those three, Brian Gutekunst needs to make adding more talent to that room a priority.
A player Gutekunst could target in the 2024 NFL Draft is Dadrion Taylor-Demerson. The Texas Tech defensive back was screened at No. 76 in the countdown to unload future packages.
After returning from Oklahoma, Taylor Demerson earned playing time at safety and special teams as a true freshman in 2019. He became a starter in 2021, recording 62 tackles, three interceptions and 13 pass deflections. In 2022, Taylor Demerson recorded 73 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, and eight pass deflections.
Last season, the Texas Tech defensive back recorded 73 tackles, one sack, four interceptions and 12 pass deflections.
Taylor Demerson will bring a lot of versatility to any secondary. Over the past three seasons, he has recorded 669 snaps in the slot, 1,312 at safety and 38 at the boundary.
“He's an undersized defensive back, but he played all five positions in the Tech secondary at one time or another,” said RC Maxfield, host of the Back to 12 podcast. “He's a smart player who's also a good communicator and isn't afraid to get his pads dirty in the run game.”
Over the past three seasons, Taylor Demerson has caught 10 passes and recorded 33 pass deflections. He has a football radar and when the ball is in his area he will play on the pigskin. He trusts his eyes and takes the right angles to the football to arrive on time.
“He's always around the ball,” Maxfield said. “Whether it's in the run game or in the air. He has a good understanding of angles which allows him to get to balls out of reach. However, it all comes down to him being a really intelligent player.
Taylor Demerson has plus speed and has real central range. He has a high football IQ and shows good instincts on the road. The former running back has a twitchy lower half and cornerback fluidity.
““His movement and hips,” Maxfield said. “He is very agile and quick to respond to the play. He also reads the quarterback's eyes well which allows him to compensate for his smaller frame.
Taylor Demerson has great closing out burst when attacking downhill against the run. Even though he's undersized, he packs a punch against the run. He also improved as a striker last season and cut down on his whiffs.
“I think that's his most underrated trait,” Maxfield said. “At Tech he was asked to help out a lot with the run game early last year because of the younger players. He uses his leverage and speed well to get from point A to point B with juice. He can also get off the edge and make corner kicks effectively.”
During his time at Texas Tech, Taylor Demerson recorded 501 snaps on special teams. With his experience in this department, Taylor Demerson can make an immediate impact on teams.
Suit up with the Packers
Taylor Demerson could step in and start nickel for the Packers if they don't re-sign Kesan Nixon or he could step in and start at safety. If he doesn't earn a starting spot on the defensive side of the ball, he could make an immediate impact on special teams.
With his versatility, ball skills and instincts, Taylor-Demerson could slot into Green Bay's secondary if selected by Gutekunst.
“The level of football intelligence, toughness and maturity,” Maxfield said. “The guy understands that when it comes to being a leader on and off the field. He's a guy you know will do his best every day to get better and do whatever is asked of him to help the team win.
The Packers are in desperate need of playmakers in the secondary. Taylor Demerson could give Green Bay's defense a much-needed shot in the arm with his natural ball skills and strong athleticism.
