Darrell Taylor
DE · New England Patriots
2 transactions this offseason
Height
6'4"
Weight
255 lbs
Age
29
College
Tennessee
Draft
2020, Rd 2, #48
DE Rank
#126 / 158
A+
F
D-
—
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsD-
| Year | Team | GP | Sacks | Tkl | TFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 69 | 24.5 | 126 | 12 |
| 2025 |  | 4 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 |  | 16 | 3.0 | 32 | 1.5 |
| 2023 |  | 17 |
Performance Grade by Season
CareerC-| Season | Team | GP | Tkl | Sacks | INT | PD | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | — | C C |
| 2024 | | 16 | 32 | 3.0 | 0 | — | D+ D+ |
| 2023 | | 17 | 28 | 5.5 | 0 | — | C- C- |
| 2022 | | 16 | 26 | 9.5 | 0 | — | C C |
| 2021 | | 16 | 37 | 6.5 | 0 | — | C C |
Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.
Current Contract
AAV
$795K/yr
Contract Value Index (CVI)
A+
Great Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
This Darrell Taylor signing is an absolute steal for New England, earning an A+ CVI that reflects exceptional value in today's pass rusher market. At just $0.8M annually, the Patriots are getting a rotational pass rusher at a fraction of what similar defensive ends command — consider that even backup edge players routinely sign for $3-4M per season in free agency. Taylor brings legitimate NFL experience and pass rush upside from his time in Seattle, making this the type of low-risk, high-reward move that championship teams execute perfectly. The minimal financial commitment means New England can afford to take a flyer on Taylor's potential while maintaining roster flexibility, and if he develops into anything more than a rotational contributor, this deal becomes highway robbery. Smart teams find value in the margins, and Bill Belichick's front office just landed a former second-round pick for backup money — the kind of shrewd roster building that keeps the Patriots competitive despite salary cap constraints.
Fan Sentiment
F
Very Negative
NegativeNeutralPositive
Darrell Taylor's release from the Patriots has generated virtually zero fanfare, reflecting his minimal impact during his brief stint in New England. The veteran edge rusher's departure was treated as routine roster maintenance by media outlets, with most coverage focusing on the Patriots' ongoing defensive line experimentation rather than Taylor as an individual contributor. His inability to stick in New England's system suggests he wasn't providing the scheme fit or production the Patriots needed from their pass rush rotation. The lack of fan reaction to his practice squad demotion speaks volumes about his perceived value within the organization and among supporters. Taylor's current standing represents a significant fall for a player who once showed promise earlier in his career, earning him a disappointing "F" grade as he searches for his next opportunity in a league that has seemingly moved past his skill set.
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About this player
Darrell Taylor is a player on the New England Patriots roster listed at DE for the New England Patriots. FanVerdicts maintains four independent grades for every NFL player on an active roster — Contract Value Index for the deal itself, Performance for on-field production, Sentiment for media and fan reaction, and Fan Verdict for community voting. Current grades for Darrell Taylor: Contract Value Index A+, Performance D-, Sentiment F, Fan Verdict pending.
Every grade refreshes on its own cadence as new data lands. Performance recalculates when NFL game stats post; Sentiment updates with new media coverage and fan discussion; Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change; Fan Verdict reflects live community voting on this profile. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) the Contract Value Index grade is computed against.
For league-wide context, the NFL hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The NFL player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.