Keith

Taylor

Jackson has had a successful career for a seventh-round pick. He played regularly for the Bills from 2020-23 before joining the Panthers in 2024. He returned to Buffalo last year, but appeared in just one game on defense. He can contribute on special teams and potentially provide the Jaguars with an experienced backup if he can make the roster. The Jaguars also signed C Trystan Colon, placed CB Keith Taylor (pectoral) on injured reserve and waived OG Sal Wormley.

The former fifth-round pick spent two years in Carolina before being cut and landing in Kansas City. The Chiefs kept Taylor on their practice squad in 2023 before using him primarily as a special teamer in 2024. He appeared in 11 games and totaled five tackles.

Taylor was a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and played on 378 defensive snaps last season. One of several Matt Rhule draft picks to get the ax on cut-down day, Taylor earned a PFF coverage grade of 52.1 last season and allowed 23 receptions for 369 yards and two touchdowns on 30 targets. In addition to Taylor, the Panthers also waived/released WR Shi Smith, LB Brandon Smith, WR Javon Wims, OL Justin McCray, and LB Deion Jones.

A fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Taylor appeared on 448 defensive snaps as a rookie per PFF. Expected to serve as a key depth piece for the Panthers this season, Taylor got off to a good start when he picked off Baker Mayfield for the first interception of training camp.

Taylor (6'2/198) started for Huskies his final two years on campus. He didn’t accrue any notable accolades and broke up only six passes, none of which were interceptions. Taylor was at his best on film when allowed to sit in shallow zones and drive back toward the ball. Taylor may have an explosive, yet inconsistent trigger on these assignments, but his tackling and demeanor are admirable. Taylor would be best in a zone-heavy scheme, either outside or in the slot, and may have a future at safety if things do not work out at cornerback.

This award is given to the defensive back with the most interceptions during spring practices. Taylor was tied with Kyler Gordon heading into the final session but was able to record one last pick to seal the deal. He has yet to record an interception in his career at Washington but will look to change that this season. The former four-star recruit is expected to be one of the strong points in the secondary for the Huskies in 2019.

“After a solid spring, in which he was second on the team with five interceptions, he’s projected to be a starter,” Ashcoff writes of the 6-foot-2, 186-pound Taylor before adding that "[h]e’ll have to fend off a few people during fall camp, but Taylor’s mix of physical and mental growth went a long way toward really impressing his coaches this spring.” The sophomore corner arrived on campus in Seattle as four-star recruit in the 2017 class. He went on to register a modest eight tackles as a true freshman, but we figure to receive a more clear picture of just what he has to offer -- potentially, a lot -- in August camp and beyond.