Michael Taaffe

● Backbone of the defense because of his recognition skills (pre- and post-snap) ● Adequate straight-line speed with burst to close when working down ● Can transition on the back end to stick with deep posts ● Plays with a sense of calm when in position to make plays on the ball ● Doesn’t hold back as a hitter/tackler ● Looks like a bat out of hell as a blitzer ● Universal approval rating in the program because of personal and football character ● Innately motivated and pushes himself, getting every ounce out of his ability ● Extensive special teams resume (844 career snaps), including 12 tackles and a blocked punt

● Undersized frame, with short arms and marginal bulk in upper body and legs ● Lack of strength presents itself in both coverage and run support ● Cut down on missed tackles in 2025, but margin of error is tiny because of his size ● Doesn’t bring stopping power as a tackler and can get trampled in the open field ● Inconsistent patience and positioning in man coverage ● Gets grabby when alone on an island ● Aggressive tendencies leave him playing catch-up mode ● Pass breakups dropped from 10 in 2024 to just one in 2025 ● Broken thumb on his left hand (October 2025); tried to play through the injury before needing surgery, which sidelined him for two games

A three-year starter at Texas, Taaffe was a versatile safety in former defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s 4-2-5 base scheme. A former walk-on, he made himself into an indispensable part of the Longhorns’ secondary, both on and off the field. He was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy (nation’s top walk-on) and earned All-SEC honors as a senior. Taaffe is an easy player to appreciate because of his feel for the game and toughness — even if his size, strength and athletic traits fall below what most teams desire at the position. He is at his best working from the post, as opposed to near the line of scrimmage (where his lack of size is more noticeable). His anticipation helps him make plays, although a misstep can be a death sentence. Overall, Taaffe has NFL-level instincts, but that probably won’t be enough for him to overcome his underwhelming physical traits and become a regular on an NFL defense. His special teams impact and intangibles are his tickets to an NFL roster spot.