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Should the 49ers go dancing with Jason Taylor?

Over at MM's blog, he was discussing the chances of a deal sending disgruntled Miami Dolphin Jason Taylor to the 49ers.  Based on Maiocco's estimations it does not seem likely, and I would certainly have to concur.  Taylor is an aging veteran who has never won a Super Bowl and thus would probably want to go to a winner.  That removes the 49ers from any short list, just based on that.  However, let's take a look at Taylor anyways, just to see how he would fit in, what he would bring to the table, and really whether we want him if you factor in the short and long term ramifications.

Abilities

Taylor could certainly bring a pass rush threat to the 49ers that has been missing for the last few years.  While Taylor is most known for his production on the defensive line, he has been bumped out to outside linebacker when the Dolphins mix in 3-4 formations.  If Taylor were to become a 49er, I would imagine he would take the place of Tully Banta-Cain in the 3-4 and split time between OLB and DE when the 4-3 was in play.  TBC always seemed to perform better in New England when he was coming off the bench and since the 49ers didn't add an OLB in this draft, he'll remain as a starter for the foreseeable future.  Scouts Inc. had the following to say about Taylor in their scouting report:

He generates deceptive strength with burst, pad level and hand jolt to get blockers off balance. Taylor uses his hands very well to gain leverage or disengage effectively. He can make moves and counters as a pass rusher and continue to gain ground . . . He has great speed, quickness and burst to chase plays down from the backside or close to the quarterback. He is slender and narrow hipped but he understands leverage, pad level and hand use to hold the point versus the run . . .He is extremely instinctive and anticipates well as plays unfold. He can drop in coverage and is effective as a short zone defender . . . Taylor has sustained his athleticism (speed, quickness, flexibility and agility) and it doesn't appear that he has lost much this late in his career.

Cost/Return
Rumor has it the Dolphins turned down an offer involving a 4th round pick from an unnamed team.  I remember hearing rumors saying they wanted a first rounder for Taylor, but I personally don't see that as a reasonable request.  Taylor is obviously still a very solid and capable player.  The problem is that he turns 34 the first week of the season and while he has maintained his play up till now, when the wheels do finally come off, it could get really ugly really quickly.  Taylor is signed through 2009, so you're certainly not in danger of a one and done issue.  For a team like the 49ers, if things worked out elsewhere on the team, 2009 could conceivably be the time they're making a true playoff push and have returned to being a contender.  Or, if things haven't worked out, you've got a solid pass rusher on a mediocre team.

Conclusions
Well, first off, as I said at the beginning, I don't see this happening.  I highly doubt Jason Taylor would want to come to a team coming off a 5-11 season.  He would not appear to have any connections to the Bay Area that might make a deal more likely.  The rumors that fly around have mentioned the Chargers and the Ravens as potential destinations.  The Ravens are coming off a 5-11 year as well, so I'm not sure what connection would lead him to Baltimore.  Either way, while I certainly would enjoy having a player of Jason Taylor's caliber in San Francisco, I definitely would not want to give up too much.  If it takes more than a 4th round pick to land Taylor, I just don't know if it's worth it long term.

Poll
Would you trade draft picks for Jason Taylor?
Yes - whatever the Dolphins want
24 votes
Yes - no more than a 2nd round pick
78 votes
Yes - no more than a 3rd round pick
144 votes
Yes - no more than a 4th round pick
70 votes
No
53 votes

369 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 18 comments

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If we could get him for a 4th round pick, sure, but otherwise I’m not really interested.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on May 25, 2008 1:22 PM PDT   0 recs

I'd be sweet

But not likely.

MURS for President!!!!!!!

by jtoj on May 25, 2008 7:00 PM PDT   0 recs

I think you’d be sweet AND likely.

Don’t sell yourself so short.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 26, 2008 12:28 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

ha

classic

by sam23 on May 26, 2008 5:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

J. Taylor and My Niners

I cannot see Taylor in a Niner uniform from either his perspective or the teams – specifically, he really does not have a whole lot of time left at his age, and the
Niners do not seem to have even a “remote” sense of urgency about our situation. With the possible exception of P Willis, we do not have a player or players teams and/or their coordinators acknowledge, fear, respect – or even notice! And it seems to me that each time we could have gotten a real player in the last 2-3 years, we passed. Go figure!
Jason Taylor is one player out there that would cause both the O and D coordinators to pause and think.

“Sell the farm” for Taylor – No. But do give it one hell of an effort. Take the shot. See what happens. ‘Cause trust me, A. Franklin and especially Mr. Banta Cain ain’t even close to the answer. Not by a long shot.

by ninernutt on May 25, 2008 11:43 PM PDT   0 recs

My brain hurts

What would a remote sense of urgency have looked like? How would our offseason have been different? What “real” players would we have gotten?

Forgetting the fact that you ignored Clements and said, “possible,” in reference to Willis, who cares if other teams acknowledge, fear, or respect our players? If they play well, which our defense did when they weren’t completely fucked over by the offense, what does it matter?

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on May 26, 2008 12:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Possible?

Everyone fears Willis. Do we really need more Chuck Norrisisms to convince you?

by rufio on May 27, 2008 8:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

In a few simple and illustriate words...

... DO NOT WANT.

In all honesty, it’s unlikely Taylor would be happy playing for the 49ers, and in turn, the 49ers would feel less inclined to pursue a player that doesn’t want to play for them. Taylor has maybe a year or two left in the tank, if that, and he’d probably want to go to a team that is a lot closer to contending than San Francisco.

by sfgfan on May 25, 2008 11:48 PM PDT   0 recs

+1

I just don’t see the point of the Niners trading valuable draft picks for a 34 year old DE who isn’t man enough to fulfill a contract that he signed. He’s not going to push the Niners over the edge and take them to the superbowl, so why bother?

by methodrampage on May 27, 2008 7:31 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Why bother?

Can he play 3B?

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 27, 2008 11:08 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

wrong blog

Still defending Rich Aurilia, and the Niners' classic unis

by wjackalope on May 27, 2008 3:58 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

But it feels so right.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on May 28, 2008 1:59 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I can't pretend

to know enough about defensive schemes to really say if he would fit into our defense. I know that I never saw much from TBC and if Taylor could be an effective 3-4 pass rushing OLB than it makes some sense to at least think about it. But 2 years of a 34-35 year old playing out of his natural position sounds pretty iffy. I say nothing more than a 4th rounder.

Still defending Rich Aurilia, and the Niners' classic unis

by wjackalope on May 26, 2008 1:46 PM PDT   0 recs

I could be

talked into giving up a 3rd rounder. but nothing more.

by sam23 on May 26, 2008 5:43 PM PDT   0 recs

Not worth draft picks earlier than the 6th round, which won’t even come close to getting him. He’s old, and we aren’t close to winning a superbowl. If he might be the “one missing piece” I’d say go for it, but, he’s not.

Has Taylor ever played in a 3-4? Does anyone have info on that? He seems a little tall/lean at 6’6” 255 for a 3-4 OLB, and it seems unlikely that he would want to try playing OLB given his obvious success from a 3 point stance.

by rufio on May 27, 2008 8:48 PM PDT   0 recs

3-4

I don’t think he has, and if I’m not mistaken, it’s one of the reasons why he wants out. I think Miami is switching to a 3-4, and he just doesn’t fit. Tall and lean? Manny Lawson is tall and lean, too. I think the issue with Taylor is that he’s just too old to be learning a new position.

by sfgfan on May 27, 2008 11:15 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Do you believe Fooch?

This was taken from this post.

While Taylor is most known for his production on the defensive line, he has been bumped out to outside linebacker when the Dolphins mix in 3-4 formations.

So either, yes, Taylor has played in a 3-4, or no, you think Fooch is full of it and a liar.

He seems a little tall/lean at 6’6" 255 for a 3-4 OLB

Actually he seems a little small for a 4-3 DE. Lawson, who everybody has high hopes for 6’5” 247, I hope Nolan didn’t waste a first round pick on someone who is too tall/lean for a 3-4 OLB.

by methodrampage on May 28, 2008 8:32 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It should also be noted

Two of the teams most being linked to Taylor play a 3-4; San Diego and Baltimore. So obviously Taylor’s ability to play in a 3-4 doesn’t seem to be much of an issue. His age and cost are by far bigger deterrents.

by methodrampage on May 28, 2008 8:40 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

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