Dadrion Taylor-Demerson to visit Halas Halls for Top 30 visit |
As we inch closer to the NFL Draft, teams continue to conclude their top 30 visits as they conclude the final preparation process for the draft. The Bears are no different, as they have invited several prospects into Halas Hall for in-person interviews and expect them to be more in the coming weeks.
Next on the list is Texas Tech safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who wasn't getting much attention early on but is now. With Eddie Jackson no longer with the team and Kevin Byard expected to replace him, the Bears could be looking toward the future, as Demerson would look good next to Jaquon Brisker for the next few years. The former Red Raider logged 10 interceptions the past three seasons, including four last season, as he is what you call your prototypical ball-hawking safety. Seeing Demerson added to the list of potential prospects is a bit surprising, but even with Byard and Jonathan Owens added in free agency, the Bears could still use some more safety depth. Looking at the roster right now, Owens will give the Bears the much-needed safety depth they didn't have last season, while Byard will provide the veteran leadership Jackson did in 2023. However, as you have seen in the past, there is no such thing as having too much secondary help, and the Bears would be wise to take that approach if it falls into their laps. When you look at Demerson and his film, you can see he is a playmaker capable of making plays in the secondary. However, when you look at what Lance Zierlein feels about Demerson, it does get you a bit more excited than you initially were, and you get a sense of why the Bears wanted to bring him in for a visit. Taylor-Demerson might not have the highly coveted measurables that teams will gravitate toward, but he brings plenty of instincts and ball skills. He offers coverage versatility for split safety, high safety, and nickel. He’s quick enough to handle man coverage and plays with outstanding anticipation to steal from quarterbacks who show their cards. His aggression will create some negative plays, and his tackling might never be more than average. Taylor-Demerson’s versatility, football IQ, and consistent ball production align with what defensive coordinators are looking for and should make him a solid starting defensive back. Sure, having the measurables is always a good thing, but having the instincts, versatility, and high football IQ are things you can't coach. Any player with those attributes attached to them will fit in well with any scheme, and Matt Eberflus loves versatile players who are also extremely smart on the Football IQ side of things. Adding his ball skills to the smarts side of things is a lethal combo, as he tends to recognize a play almost as quickly as some of the offensive players do. Demerson has many of the traits that Eberflus looks for in a defensive player, and he checks the boxes of what a defensive back should be about. There is a reason why he is coming to Halas Hall, as Eberflus sees things that he likes about him even when others may not. One of the Red Raiders' captains last season, Demerson is not only a leader but also a leader who racked up a ton of stats. His four interceptions were the most on the team, while his eight pass break-ups were the second most. Demerson also added 73 tackles (53 solo Tackles), which ranked third on the team, while also playing quarterback for the defensive unit. That is another thing that Eberflus preaches on defense, as communication is huge in his system. No one is expecting Demerson to be a first-rounder by any means, but if the Bears can land him on day 2, it could be viewed as one of the steals in this year's class. This player has a knack for finding the football and making plays all over the field. Demerson may not be good enough to start right away, but he is someone that every defense would love to have, as he would allow Eberflus to use different defensive sets in certain situations.
