Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor has been one of the most mercurial Miami players throughout his career. Taylor was a five-star signee in the 2021 class. Taylor has 64 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception and one pass breakup in his Miami career. Taylor’s NFL Draft stock has frequently fluctuated.
Taylor has regressed this season in production. After 24 tackles,10.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks in 2022. Taylor has 19 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and one sack in 2023. In fairness, Taylor is being used differently in the Lance Guidry defense. Mock Draft project Taylor as the 30th pick overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
If Kinchens and Taylor are selected in the first round as projected, they would be the first Miami teammates since 2015 to be taken that high in the NFL Draft Ereck Flowers and Philip Dorsett were 2015 first-round picks. If Taylor leaves as expected, Miami has depth at DT to absorb his loss.
Jared Harrison-Hunte can return to Miami for a fifth season. Miami also has Anthony Campbell, Thomas Gore and Joshua Horton returning at DT. Alabama transfer Jamil Burroughs who is sitting out this season should be in the 2024 Miami DT rotation.