Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor has declared for the NFL draft and could be an interesting option for the Green Bay Packers if he is available in the second round. It would be neat for a change to see one of the best running back in Badgers history stay in the state and go play for the Packers, but does it make a lot of sense?
Let's take a look at if the Packers should draft Taylor in the second round.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Taylor
On the field, there is no doubt that Taylor would make the Packers better. He is a bruising back that always seems to be falling forward to pick up an extra yard or two. TheDraftNetwork gave the following review of Taylor's skill set.
Impressive blend of size, power and speed. Love how he always runs square and behind his pads. Terrific power throughout his frame which leads to consistent output after contact. Always falls forward and finishes his runs. Has more big play potential than expected for a 220-pound runner. Smooth, easy accelerator that is capable of running away from defensive backs. Impressive amount of elusiveness, twitch and shiftiness for his size. … Vision is generally sound and he does a good job of feeling cutback lanes and manipulating the second level.
The big issues involving Taylor are in the passing game and with fumbles. He was a bigger threat out of the backfield his junior year catching the ball, but it's still something he really needs to work on.
Jonathan Taylor also needs to find a way to take better care of the ball. Once he gets to the NFL, defenders are going to try and rip the ball out from Taylor every time they bring him down. If Taylor doesn't improve on holding onto the ball, the defenders are going to have a lot of success getting the ball away from the bruising running back.
Should the Packers draft him?
As intriguing as a prospect that Taylor is, the Packers have other needs that the team should be trying to fill with their second-round pick.
The team has Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams in the backfield, both guys who have proven they can handle the load of the offense. The team also has other pressing needs that need to be filled. They need to improve at wide receiver, tight end, and the offensive line. If one of the stud wideouts is still available at this spot (which they could be because of how loaded of a class it is), the Packers really need to jump all over that.
Drafting Taylor would be a fun story, but the draft pick should be used a different way to help the team in 2020 and beyond.
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