The Pittsburgh Steelers need a safety in the 2024 NFL Draft, and one of those mid-round picks feels like the perfect spot to take a limited-class player. They sent scouts to both the Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl to scout safeties, but one player stood out — Texas Tech safety Dadrion Taylor Demerson. .
I was going to be at his bat any day of the week. There’s a mentality to being a vocal leader. Taylor-Demerson talks a little about the game on the field, but he does it because that’s who he is as a player. He’s naughty and plays with a lot of energy, but don’t confuse him by saying he plays too rough. Taylor Demerson has an incredible amount of discipline and football IQ to anticipate route concepts and dive into the routes underneath.
This past season, he played over 600 snaps in the slot. When in man coverage, he has the same composure to anticipate what’s going to happen, but when forced to react off the line, he has the speed to bounce back. On one play, Taylor-Demerson countered a go ball, never looking back, but deftly breaking through his hands for a pass breakup.
Considered the leader of the Texas Tech defense, he primarily adjusted at free safety thanks to his excellent range and ball-hawking instincts. He has speed and plays with physicality. That edge worked well for Tayl0r-Demerson, who earned the nickname “Rabbit.” Because of his play on the field.
And while the Steelers will likely try to address safety to some degree in free agency, Taylor Demerson may not be the mid-round home run pick who would bring great value in this class. . His week at the Shrine Bowl demonstrated his great intangibles and ability to play in man coverage. That will only increase his stock and should be a great week at the NFL Combine.