The hype is building: Miami DT Leonard Taylor checks in as the No. 13 overall pick on Mel Kiper's first 2024 NFL Draft Big Board
The Miami Hurricanes had two NFL first-rounders since 2017, and both were defensive ends at UM that were chosen in 2021 – Greg Rousseau by the Bills at No. 30 and Jaelan Phillips by the Dolphins at No. 18.
Today ESPN’s NFL Draft Expert, Mel Kiper, released his first 2024 NFL Draft Big Board with his projected top 25 players. One Miami Hurricane made the list, and it’s another defensive lineman.
Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor checked in at No. 13. Oh, and the last time UM had a DT go in the first round was all the way back in 2004, when Vince Wilfork went at pick 21.
Kiper isn’t the first expert or site to place Taylor in the first round of next year’s draft.
Bleacher Report had safety Kam Kinchens going No. 24, then DT Leonard Taylor getting taken at No. 28. Pro Football Focus had Taylor at No. 17 and Kinchens at 27 to the Packers. CBS Sports had just one Miami player in the first round, Taylor at No. 15, while Fox Sports had Taylor as its lone opening round selection with pick 22. And ESPN’s Todd McShay previously projected Taylor going at No. 14.
It seems Taylor is the pick of choice from the Hurricanes to go early in the NFL Draft next year. Of course, to do that he’ll need to enjoy a strong season.
Last year, in his first starting role (played off the bench in nine games as a freshman and had 7.5 TFL, 2 sacks), Taylor ended with 24 tackles, 10.5 TL (tied for team lead) and three sacks along with an interception and a team-high six QB hurries. In 329 reps he graded out at an elite 87.3 percent per Pro Football Focus (79.5 run defense, 53.5 tackle grade, 85.5 pass rush grade). Comparatively, the year prior as a true freshman, in 200 reps he graded out at 71.7 overall (74.5 run defense, 58.7 tackle, 60.4 pass rush). Taylor is the No. 6 returning player in the nation based on his overall PFF grade, No. 4 in pass rush grade and No. 2 in pass rush win rate (19 percent).
So the hype is real.
Now he just has to live up to it.
