NFL Draft Results: Eagles pick Davion Taylor at No. 103

With the 103rd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select ... Colorado linebacker Davion Taylor.

The Eagles had an official pre-draft visit with Taylor scheduled prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Here’s what we wrote about him at the time:

Taylor is far from the most experienced prospect. He didn’t play football in high school due to religious reasons. He then played at the junior college level before transferring to Colorado in 2018. Taylor appeared in 24 games with the Buffaloes, logging 129 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, six passes defensed, and two sacks.

Colorado used Taylor as a hybrid safety/linebacker. The Eagles have had an affinity for those type of players during the Jim Schwartz era; look no further than Nathan Gerry and Kamu Grugier-Hill.

The Eagles could look to draft Taylor as a developmental defensive player with the hopes he can immediately contribute on special teams. The team definitely has a need at the position with only four players (Gerry, T.J. Edwards, Duke Riley, Alex Singleton) currently under contract for 2020 and one of them (Edwards) signed beyond this season.

The Eagles really could’ve afforded to add some instant impact at linebacker given that Gerry and Edwards are currently the projected starters. Taylor seems like more of a long-term play, though, given his inexperience.

The Eagles sure are having an ... interesting ... draft this year, huh?

Scouting report via NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein:

Traits-based linebacker project with rare speed and explosiveness who may need an extended developmental runway to counter his lack of experience and awareness. Religious beliefs prevented him from playing high school ball (other than a single game) and he is still in the early stages of learning and applying proper technique and fundamentals in all phases of the game. While his inexperience shows up plenty on tape, he has flashes that show off what he could be capable of in the future. Scouts say he’s very coachable and that he’s one of Mel Tucker’s favorites. At best, he develops into a playmaking starter after two or three years. At worst, he should be a plus special teams talent fairly quickly.

College stats via Pro Football Reference:

Spider graph via Mockdraftable:

Game film:

Grade the pick

Remaining Eagles draft picks

1st - No. 21 - Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU

2nd - No. 53 - Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma

3rd - No. 103 - Davion Taylor, LB, Colorado

4th - No. 124

4th - No. 145

4th - No. 146

5th - No. 168

6th - No. 190

Eagles’ top remaining needs

Wide receiver

Safety

Cornerback