Washington Redskins: Top 5 First Round Draft Picks
By Andrew Long
Sean Taylor was on his way to becoming one of the best safeties in the NFL when his life was tragically taken during a home invasion in 2007. The 24-year-old Taylor was playing at a ridiculously high level at the time of his death. He had the highest number of interceptions in the league, and was seemingly ready to take the next step in his career.
The Redskins made the punishing safety the fifth overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. It didn’t take long before Taylor was recognized as one of the hardest hitting players in the league. At 6-2, 212 pounds, the young safety instilled fear into opposing players. His vicious hits and high motor allowed him to make an impact on nearly any play.
His first two seasons in the league were eerily similar to one another. Both seasons ended with Taylor securing 60 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one sack. The only noticeable differences between his rookie and sophomore seasons was the amount of interceptions he was able to corral. Taylor finished his rookie season with four interceptions, and his sophomore year with two.
Though it was a down year in some statistical categories, Taylor enjoyed a solid season in 2006. The third-year safety only grabbed one interception that year, and he wasn’t able to reach the quarterback to record a sack, but he did manage to rack up a hefty amount of tackles (86) and forced fumbles (3).
During his final season in 2007, Taylor was playing lights out football. Through nine weeks of action, the Pro Bowl safety had recorded 32 tackles, a forced fumble, and an astonishing 5 interceptions. It was at this point that he was fatally wounded. Taylor finished his playing career with a total of 238 tackles, eight forced fumbles, two sacks, and 12 interceptions.
It’s a shame that Sean Taylor‘s life was ended so abruptly. We’ll never know how far his seemingly limitless potential and talent could have taken him. I firmly believe that he would have ended his career as one of the best safeties to ever play the game.
Next: A Silverback awaits...