2020 NFL Draft Prospect: Wisconsin Running Back Jonathan Taylor

Read Time:1 Minute, 36 Second

When fans think of legendary running backs, they think of Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Eric Dickerson, Jim Brown and LaDanian Tomlinson. Typically running backs are either power backs or speed backs. Welcome to the 2020 NFL Draft Prospect Profile.

Jonathan Taylor out of Wisconsin is a power back with good speed and excellent acceleration. He isn’t a jack of all trades but rather a master of all trades. Taylor possesses outstanding ball-carrying vision. His ability to read defenses and recognize holes is second to no one. He has the agility to bounce to the outside and then “turn on the afterburners” for more yards. He has a nasty juke move that can “break ankles”. Taylor’s arm strength and ability to break tackles will give any offense an instant edge. He will fight for extra yards every time. Taylor can also plow through defenders with his brute strength. If there is any running back that is close to complete entering the draft, it’s Taylor.

He can also be a featured weapon in the passing game. Throwing to Taylor is like throwing to Christian McCaffrey. Although Taylor didn’t get many receptions, he proved that he can be an extra receiver. With all of his skills and abilities, Taylor has a chance to bring a Saqoun Barkley or Nick Chubb sort of presence to any offense.

Defenses have to play at their best level just to slow Taylor down because he can win against them in a variety of ways. To use a basketball reference to describe Taylor, defenses have to “pick their poison”. He ran for 2003 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2019. Taylor will be an instant impact player and will bring a lot of energy to an offense.

Draft Projection- Top ten talent, late first-round pick.