Round 2, Pick 49 - San Francisco 49ers - Taylor Mays

Taylor Mays, S, USC

Ht: 6’ 3 1/8” Wt: 230

EMQB’s analysis on the pick:  Mays is an old-fashion, in-the-box type safety almost like an extra linebacker.  Though he doesn't have the coverage skills that NFL teams covet now, he is a excellent teammate and hard worker.  If the Niners use him properly, he can help this defense instantly.  

Pro Football Weekly’s scouting report: Throw out the stopwatch and eye- popping 40-time at the Combine — the tape of Mays playing to his speed does not exist. Can start readily in NFL like he did in college and get away with his lack of instincts in the pros because of his rare recovery speed, but lack of instincts, intelligence and toughness will always leave teams wanting more. Enamors with his measurables but disappoints with his play, and will need more than straight-line speed and a flash hit to become more than a serviceable starter in the pros. Will be overdrafted and underperform.

NFL projection: First-round pick.

Lindy’s Sports scouting report:  Mays has the natural ability to rate out as one of the real stars of the pre-draft work out circuit.  With four years of film for scouts to grade, his over aggressiveness as a senior won’t prove catastrophic to his final grade.  His performance in 2009 might have knocked him out of the top 10, but his blend of size, speed and explosive hitting make him a first-round lock and immediate impact rookie. 

Pro Football Weekly 2010 Draft Preview available @ http://www.pfwstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=695

Lindy’s Sports 2010 Draft Guide available @http://www.lindyssports.com/product.php?cn=332

Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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"I'll Take 'Draft Busts for Millions', Alex."

Draft busts. They are an "albatross" in the NFL. If a team can avoid drafting too many, then they can keep payroll low and win totals high.  If a team drafts too many then........


Pro Football Weekly touched on that very subject today. They questioned the "bust factor" in two highly rated players: Taylor Mays and Jason Pierre-Paul. 


These type of discussions are always raised about draft picks who have certain issues. 


It is difficult to know whether a draft pick will be a successful NFL player or not.

I believe that the teams that draft successfully understand how to use the players they draft. They find players with strengths that fit their system, and then try to minimize the players' faults.

A perfect example was Dwight Freeney. Being only 6' 1", he was viewed as having "bust potential" because taller offensive tackles with long arms could latch on to him. It was believed Freeney wouldn't have the size to get off of their blocks. The Colts drafted him and let him use his strengths, speed and leverage to become one of the top pass rushers in the league.

Busts happen more times than not because teams don't have the foresight to envision that draft pick's future role on the team. They can't go on measurables or hoping that the player will be able to make a drastic change. They have to know what this player is going to bring to the team based on something they have already seen.




Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.everymorningqb.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.everymorningqb.com.