Cooper

Taylor

An imposing 6-foot-4, 228 pounds with 4.49 wheels, Taylor could also see time at weak-side linebacker. Coach Tom Coughlin expects Taylor to compete for time in the Giants’ three-safety package, but the majority of his action should come on special teams.

Taylor goes 6-foot-4, 228 with 4.49 wheels. He was viewed as a linebacker prospect by some teams. “He is a safety by trade but you drop him down in that three-safety package or whatever you want to do,” said Coughlin. “Whether he plays an outside backer or whatever.” Taylor will have to earn the job in camp.

Taylor attended the East-West Shrine game and opened some eyes due to his size and closing ability. The former Georgia tech Yellow Jacket is an interesting NFL prospect. We aren’t sure if he fits as a weakside linebacker, in the box safety, or a combination of the two.

They activated OL Eric Herman from the practice squad to fill Taylor’s roster spot. A fifth-round pick out of Richmond, Taylor was a core special teamer as a rookie. He’ll have a chance to compete for playing time on defense in 2014, likely as a linebacker-type player in dime sub-packages.

Taylor has battled injuries since coming into the league as a 2013 fifth-rounder. This one will again cause him to fall behind in the competition at safety.

S Bennett Jackson has also been waived. Jackson missed all of 2015 with a torn ACL. Taylor whiffed on a starting job last season before getting on the field for only 84 snaps. He’s still only 26, but it’s a bad sign he couldn’t even survive until final cuts.

Taylor got the majority of snaps at free safety with Nat Berhe (calf) sidelined. Taylor likely would have worked with the second team had Berhe been healthy. Berhe remains the favorite to start opposite rookie SS Landon Collins.

Nat Berhe missed OTAs with a calf injury, leaving Taylor to work with the first team defense. Berhe will enter training camp behind Taylor, but remains the favorite to start. Rookie Landon Collins is locked in at strong safety.

A 2013 fifth-rounder, Taylor was in the running for a starting job this summer, but couldn’t nail it down. He missed all of 2014 with a foot injury. It could be a minute before Cooper gets a second chance.

The 2013 fifth-round pick will be back-end depth and play special teams.