The Pittsburgh Steelers need safety in the 2024 NFL Draft, and one of those mid-round picks feels like the perfect spot to grab one in a limited class. They sent scouts to both the Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl to scout safeties, and one players stuck out from the rest — Texas Tech safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson.
I would go to bat for him any day of the week. The mentality to be a vocal leader is there. Taylor-Demerson talks a bit of game on the field, but he does that because it’s who he is as a player. He’s rambunctious and plays with a ton of energy, but don’t let that confuse you by saying he plays too wildly. Taylor-Demerson has an impressive amount of discipline and football IQ to anticipate route concepts and jump on underneath routes.
This past season, he played over 600 snaps in the slot. When in man coverage, he has the similar calmness to anticipate what is coming, but when he is forced to react off the line, he has the speed to recover. On one play, Taylor-Demerson fought back into a go ball and never turned around, but expertly played through the hands for a pass breakup.
Considered a leader on the Texas Tech defense, he primarily aligned at free safety thanks to plus range and ball-hawking instincts. He has speed and plays with physicality. That edge has worked well for Tayl0r-Demerson, who has earned the nickname ‘The Rabbit’ due to his play on the field.
And while the Steelers will likely look to address safety somewhat in free agency, not Taylor-Demerson could be the mid-round home run pick that would get excellent value out of the class. His week at the Shrine Bowl proved his excellent intangibles and ability to play in man coverage, too. That will only boost his stock, and he should be set for an excellent week at the NFL Combine, too.