8 NFL Veterans in Danger of Losing Their Jobs
Phil Taylor, Cleveland Browns
This big bulwark in the middle of the Cleveland Browns’ defensive line has seen his own share of injury woes in recent days. Phil Taylor, the nose tackle for the Browns, has missed more than a third of his last three seasons, mustering eight games in 2012 (torn pectoral muscle), 15 in 2013, and just five last season (knee scope). The former 21st overall pick has proved to have a low ceiling and a lower floor in his time in the league, allowing his Browns’ defense to put together three bottom-10 finishes in Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP. For a 3-4 nose tackle, the main job is to plug the running lanes, and Taylor has failed to do much of that. Now owed a non-guaranteed $5.5 million for 2015, he may see himself cut before the season kicks off.
The main reason for that? The 12th overall selection of the 2015 Draft: Danny Shelton. I’ve already explained at length why I think Shelton’s bulk is deadweight for Cleveland that high in the draft, but the fact of the matter is that he will get a chance to play, likely at Taylor’s expense. This one certainly had writing on the wall before, but now it’s become quite clear that the future of the Browns’ defense doesn’t include Phil Taylor.
