[Elvis]

2. TAYLOR RAPP | Washington 5116 | 208 lbs. | JR. Bellingham, Wash. (Sehome) 12/22/1997 (age 21.35) #7

BACKGROUND: A three-star safety recruit out of high school, Taylor Rapp was a big fish in a small pond at Sehome, a football program not known for producing FBS-level talent. He played quarterback, running back and receiver on offense and pass rusher, linebacker and safety on defense as Sehome combined to win only five games his junior and senior seasons. Rapp posted 117 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and three interceptions as a senior, earning First Team All-State honors at safety. He was the No. 27 rated safety in the 2016 recruiting class and earned a scholarship offer from Washington (his dream school) after his performance at a junior camp. A Chinese-American, Rapp’s father (Chris) is Canadian and mother (Chiyan) is Chinese (Taylor can speak Chinese and has dual citizenship in the United States and Canada). His older brother (Austin) played quarterback at Sehome before walking on as a linebacker at Washington State. Rapp elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft.

YEAR (GP/GS) TKLS TFL SACK FF PD INT NOTES 2016: (14/10) 53 0.5 0.0 1 6 4 Freshman All-American; Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year 2017: (13/12) 59 3.5 2.0 1 1 1 First Team All-Pac 12 2018: (13/13) 59 6.0 5.0 0 7 2 First Team All-American; First-Team All-Pac 12 Total: (40/35) 171 10.0 7.0 2 14 7 HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP COMBINE 5116 208 30 3/4 09 72 7/8 - - - 35 09’07” 3.99 6.82 17 PRO DAY 4.78 2.75 1.61 - - - - - (didn’t perform position drills – choice)

STRENGTHS: Highly intelligent and quick to diagnose…understands football geometry and doesn’t misjudge angles…short-area quickness to cleanly redirect his momentum…excellent closing burst vs. the run…controlled tackler, squaring his target, staying low and finishing with strong hands…accurate strike zone to create stopping power at contact…fearless and willingly sticks his nose in the fire…maneuvers through congestion without creating a 12-car pile-up…active blitzer…physical to the ball in coverage…extra effort and toughing out injuries are standard for him…double-digit starts each of his three seasons in college.

WEAKNESSES: Below-average timed speed…not twitchy and lacks elite range or make-up speed…needs to improve his pedal and transition technique…more of a battering ram downhill and needs to better use his hands to work off contact…suffered a hip injury in the Pac-12 Championship Game (December 2018) and had to sit out the Rose Bowl against Ohio State…suffered a hairline fracture in his left hand (March 2016).

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Washington, Rapp was a versatile chess piece in the middle of the field for the Huskies, lining up at linebacker, nickel and both safety spots throughout his career. When drafted, he will be the second (and likely the highest) Chinese-American selected in the NFL Draft (OL Ed Wang was a fifth-rounder in the 2010 NFL Draft and played four seasons in the NFL). Rapp is one of the “smartest guys I’ve ever coached,” according to Huskies defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and his instincts and intelligence are the first traits that stand out on film. He is always in chase mode (doesn’t know how to turn it off) and won’t make mental mistakes. Overall, Rapp’s subpar 40-yard dash sticks out like a sore thumb, but his smarts, toughness vs. the run and ability to handle coverage responsibilities make him a high floor prospect, projecting as a decade-long NFL starting safety.

GRADE: 1st-2nd Round (#30 overall)

[BobCarl]

screenshot on my screen when the pick was announced:

[AvengerRam]

Great pick. He can flat out play. He’ll take on a hybrid role early, I’m betting.

[Elvis]

[Rams1PlateSince1976]

I like the pick. Very smart, tough and an over-achiever. Being Asian he is probably good at math too!!!

[AvengerRam]

I’m betting he’d run a much better time when 100% healthy.

Watch his highlight reel. Kid can play.

[Elvis]

[Rams1PlateSince1976]

Like I said: Good with math.

[scramsfan]

Like the pick. Smart football savvy. Tough. He can play special teams until it’s his time to start in 1 or 2 years.

[Elvis]