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Taylor Mays | Defensive Back

Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Age / DOB:  (25) / 2/7/1988
Ht / Wt:  6'3' / 230
College: USC
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

Bengals S Taylor Mays played on just 22.8 percent of the defensive snaps in 2012.
Once Chris Crocker got healthy ahead of Week 5, Mays' playing time really went in the tank. He's a big hitter, but gets exposed in coverage and isn't a great blitzer. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer claims Mays will have a bigger role in 2013, but he'll have to earn it. The Cincinnati Enquirer expects the Bengals to use a high draft pick on a safety. Mar 5 - 12:46 PM
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer

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Player News

Date:
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

Taylor Mays has earned the Bengals' starting strong safety job.

Mays' role grew throughout last season, leading the Bengals to believe his progress would make Chris Crocker expendable. While Mays does have IDP appeal as a hard hitter, he's been an adventure in limited early-career exposure as a coverage safety.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Fri, Sep 7, 2012 09:43:00 AM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

Bengals S Taylor Mays suffered a "possible concussion" in Friday's preseason opener.

Mays was reportedly "dazed" following a second-quarter hit on rookie Jets WR Stephen Hill, and is more than likely concussed. In the driver's seat for Cincinnati's starting strong safety job, Mays has suffered no other known concussions since coming into the league in 2010.
Source: Geoff Hobson on Twitter
Fri, Aug 10, 2012 10:57:00 PM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

Taylor Mays remains favored to win the Bengals' starting strong safety job.

Mays was a second-round pick by the 49ers in 2010, but this is his best opportunity to date. He only has to hold off the likes of Jeromy Miles, Robert Sands, and rookie George Iloka. "It has been the most crucial offseason for me," Mays said. There's sleeper IDP appeal here.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 10:37:00 AM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

Taylor Mays is getting the majority of first-team reps at strong safety during Bengals OTAs.

Bengals DC Mike Zimmer indicated he's nowhere near naming a starter, but the organization has been high on Mays since he came out of USC in 2010. Mays is trying to hold off Jeromy Miles, Robert Sands, and rookie George Iloka. For now, the Bengals aren't considering moving CBs Nate Clements or Jason Allen.
Related: Jeromy Miles, Robert Sands
Source: bengals.com
Mon, Jun 4, 2012 10:06:00 PM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

ESPN AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley confirms that Taylor Mays is currently "penciled in" as the Bengals' strong safety.

He'll have to old off Robert Sands, Jeromy Miles, rookie George Iloka, and perhaps Jason Allen, but Mays is apparently atop the depth chart at this point. Despite stiff hips and little playmaking ability, Mays had a high draft grade from the Bengals coming out of USC in 2010. Mays could emerge onto the IDP radar if he wins the job and stays on the field for Cincinnati's nickel packages.
Source: ESPN.com
Sun, May 6, 2012 02:45:00 PM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

The Cincinnati Enquirer deems Taylor Mays the leading candidate to replace the recently released Chris Crocker at strong safety.

The 2010 second-rounder played just 57 of a possible 648 defensive snaps last season while missing seven games due to injuries. He's strictly an in-the-box safety with poor coverage instincts. Jeromy Miles could also be in the mix, though the Bengals figured to strongly consider Alabama's Mark Barron at No. 17 regardless of Crocker's status.
Related: Jeromy Miles
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Fri, Apr 6, 2012 12:17:00 PM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

Bengals S Taylor Mays has not practiced since injuring his knee in Cincinnati's preseason finale.

Mays is officially doubtful for Sunday against the Browns, but the odds are almost zero that he'll suit up. He did not miss a game as a rookie with the 49ers last season. Mays could see some time in the Bengals secondary once he gets healthy, but most of his contributions should come on special teams.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 05:45:00 PM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

Bengals acquired S Taylor Mays from the 49ers in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick.

It should be a late-round pick. Prior to last year's draft, a mid-March report from the Dayton Daily News stated that the Bengals were "eyeing" Mays with the No. 21 overall pick. Based on that information, we suspect Mays will stay at safety in Cincinnati rather than move to linebacker, where some teams projected him. He'll start his Bengals career out on special teams.
Related: Bengals
Source: Dave Mahler on Twitter
Mon, Aug 22, 2011 08:02:00 PM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

Multiple sources tell ESPN Chicago that the 49ers' trade talks with the Bears involving S Taylor Mays are now a "dead issue."

The Bears would've moved Mays to outside linebacker and let him compete on special teams, but ultimately "backed off" with little time for a position switch left before the season. Perhaps they'll revisit the idea closer to the October trade deadline. Mays' price tag will have gone down by then, considering he won't be playing any defensive snaps in San Francisco.
Related: Bears
Source: ESPN Chicago
Fri, Aug 19, 2011 01:18:00 PM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

The talk among players at 49ers camp is that the Bears made a recent trade offer for SS Taylor Mays.

Beat writer Matt Maiocco files this one under the "rumor" category, as it hasn't been confirmed by anyone higher up in the chain of command. The 49ers apparently rejected to the Bears' offer. Chicago's interest is hardly surprising; they've been sniffing around on several high-profile draft busts.
Related: Bears
Source: CSN Bay Area
Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:03:00 PM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio won't consider moving over-sized SS Taylor Mays to linebacker.

"He's just got a safety build to him," Fangio said. "Playing linebacker and lining up thick on a tight end or a tackle and having to do combat with 260- to 270- pound tight ends and 300-, 320-, 340-pound tackles, I don't believe that fits his game right now." Mays won't play for Fangio as a safety, so he's going to be a special teamer unless another team is intrigued enough by his measurables to strike a deal.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 11:21:00 PM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

NFL Network's Michael Lombardi confirms ex-head coach Mike Singletary was alone on the Taylor Mays draft pick last season.

We had heard Singletary and GM Trent Baalke were at odds over the pick, and suspected Singletary "pounded the table" for the tweener safety. Lombardi's report explains Baalke's willingness to pull the cord on one of his own picks after just one season.
Source: NFL.com
Sun, Aug 7, 2011 04:56:00 PM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the 49ers sent out a "mass email" to the other 31 teams letting them know S Taylor Mays is available for trade.

The Niners are giving up on Mays after one season. The 49th pick in last year's draft, Mays is what we thought he was: A straight-line athlete with no prayer of being an asset in coverage. They might salvage a late-round draft pick in a best case scenario. Perhaps Mays' old college coach, Pete Carroll, would be interested in giving him a look in Seattle. The Seahawks' current projected starting strong safety is Kam Chancellor.
Related: Seahawks
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Thu, Aug 4, 2011 03:41:00 PM
Taylor Mays - DB - Bengals

49ers SS Taylor Mays took second-team reps at training camp practice on Friday.

Special teamer C.J. Spillman and Reggie Smith ran with the first team. Mays struggled mightily in pass coverage as a rookie, but he should be given a legitimate opportunity to win the Niners' starting strong safety during camp.
Related: Reggie Smith
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Sat, Jul 30, 2011 10:28:00 AM

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