Los Angels Chargers prospect scouting report: Jawaan Taylor
By Martens Ernest
Following his junior season with the Florida Gators, offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor will enter the 2019 NFL draft.
The Los Angeles Chargers signed mostly linebackers and safeties this free agency period. While most fans would’ve wanted the Chargers to go best player available in the draft it’s looking as if the team will be looking for a mainstay offensive tackle this year in the draft.
Taylor is a 6-foot-5, 312-pound mammoth of a man. His arm length is 35 1/8″ which he can use to keep pass rushers at bay and also push the pile to his content. A wonderful mainstay that the Chargers could find in the draft could be the offensive tackle from the Florida Gators.
Hopefully, he’ll be able to take over the left side when Russell Okung retires.
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Jawaan’s fit with the Chargers is that he can help upgrade their pass protection tremendously and give us a bonafide starter on the right side. His pass protection skills are spoken very highly of by Joe Marino of The Draft Network.
“Terrific blend of length, mobility and power to be a reliable pass blocker. Rare lateral movement skills for his size. Has really cleaned up his pass sets to take proper sets to frame rushers and protect against moves to the b or c-gap. Stuns rushers with his hands. Effectively uses his length and widens the rushers path.”
I know that if the Chargers could draft someone as technically sound as Taylor to guard Philip Rivers’ frontside from the likes of Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, it would be big for the team. By protecting Rivers’ frontside, Phil will have the time to pick apart defenses with out of this world precision. Jawaan’s pass blocking isn’t the only great aspect of his game.
Jawaan’s run blocking is another reason why the Chargers should draft him, per Marino.
“Brings heavy hands, good core strength and powerful leg drive that enables him to create movement in the run game. That said, he must do a better job of leveraging his hips to achieve the same success in the NFL. Easily absorbs contact and redirects. Unlikely to ever be over-matched in terms of power. Sustains blocks extremely well. Has the lateral mobility and football IQ needed to be effective in zone.”
There would not be a better pick for the Chargers if Taylor fell to them at the 28th pick. He is the most complete tackle in this draft at this point in the process. Here is to hoping that Jawaan can be drafted by the Chargers.