PFP: Bengals to host USC Safety Taylor Mays

by Josh Kirkendall on Apr 2, 2010 3:00 PM EDT in NFL Draft

Wide receiver, safety, offensive lineman. Each one of them are positions that we've identified with the Bengals possibly addressing with their first round pick. Cornerback is another position that's recently shown up on the radar with news that the Bengals will host potential first-round corners such as Joe Haden, or expressed some level of interest with cornerback Kyle Wilson. Furthermore, with wide receiver, I haven't gotten that feeling that the Bengals will address the position if Dez Bryant is drafted before the team's 21st overall pick.

Taylor Mays is a safety that the Bengals are targeting. Carlos Holmes wrote weeks ago that the USC Safety would "flourish" in Mike Zimmer's defense. A possible replacement for Roy Williams who fields dramatic durability questions while playing under a one-year contract, it's questionable that Mays would even reach Cincinnati.

But that doesn't mean the Bengals can't be due-diligent with all of the prospects in this years NFL Draft. And the Bengals will host Taylor Mays, writes Pro Football Post's Aaron Wilson.

Mays, who ran a 4.31 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, is a four-year starter and a three-time All-American selection. He intercepted one pass and posted 96 tackles last season.

"They know I can run fast, they know I can hit and all that stuff," Mays told the Los Angeles Times. "But being able to be a big safety and being able to move is my biggest thing. I think that's the biggest question mark."

It's unknown when the Bengals will host Mays, just that they reportedly will.

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Very nice, but...

a more instructive YouTube clip would have been the “Taylor Mays Highlights/Lowlights 2009 USC”.

When you need someone to be an unguided missile, particularly terrorizing RB’s trying to turn the corner or receivers on short routes, Mays is your guy. When you need someone to wrap up a tackle, or provide coverage on time so the pass is never thrown in the first place, don’t expect too much if Mays is on the field.

If we already had a true ballhawking, centerfielding safety with great coverage instincts locked into a contract for the next few years, I would be only too happy to take Mays at #21 to complement him. The problem is that we don’t: the coverage FS is our biggest need on D.

Unless we’re prepared to draft Thomas if available at #21, and then start trying to package our 2nd rounder with some lower pick(s) to move up to the late 1st or early 2nd if Mays is still there, taking him wouldn’t be a wise strategy for our 1st round.

Since the above scenario is crazy, and doesn’t fit with MB’s usual way of doing business, it’s not going to happen.

by Mr. X on Apr 2, 2010 5:28 PM EDT reply actions