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M
SAF2026 Draft Prospect

Michael Taaffe

Texas

Measurables

5'11 7/8"

190 lb

Scouting report · The One Analytics

Day 2Projected · Round 3-4

Hybrid Star Nickel

Michael Taaffe projects as a hybrid star nickel — a SAF from Texas who tested with a starter-caliber athletic profile (58th composite). Combine line reads 5'11 7/8" · 190 lb, 4.50s 40. College defensive line: 221 tackles · 3 sacks · 7 INT · 14 PD across 4 seasons. Dominance score 76 (overproduced the cohort when adjusted for age of production).

76B+

Dominance score · multi-component

Above-average producer

Blends four cohort percentiles — 35% age-weighted career volume, 40% peak single-season production, 15% breakout (early-career + jump year), 10% position-specific efficiency. Prospects with off-the-chart seasons earn a bonus on top.

Career volume

35%

71th

age-weighted

Peak season

40%

71th

2024

Breakout

15%

81th

early-career + jump year

Efficiency

10%

57th

Plays/G · 0.44

★1× off-the-chart season+5 dominance

Trait grades · 6 dimensions

B

Speed

58th percentile · 4.50s 40-yard

N/A

Burst

No combine number on file — no vert · no broad

N/A

Lateral Agility

No combine number on file — no 3-cone · no shuttle

N/A

Vertical Pop

No combine number on file — no vertical jump on file

C

Frame

13th percentile · 5'11 7/8" · 190 lb

N/A

Power

No combine number on file — no bench on file

NFL comparisons · top 3 historical

Closest distance · 0.48
  1. #1

    Malachi Moore

    2025 R4 · #130 · Alabama · 5-11/196lb

    76

    sim

  2. #2

    Andrew Mukuba

    2025 R2 · #64 · Texas · 5-11/186lb · 4.45s 40

    76

    sim

  3. #3

    Brady Breeze

    2021 R6 · #215 · Oregon · 5-11/197lb · 4.55s 40

    68

    sim

Scheme fit

Modern positionless defense — star/nickel role covering slots + blitzing off the edge.

X-Factor

Speed grades in the 58th percentile — 4.50s 40-yard.

Primary risk

Frame sits in the 13th percentile (5'11 7/8") — the headline weakness scouts will key on.

Generated by deterministic-v5 · Apr 19, 2026Workout · Combine

Scouting Combine · 2026

Combine percentiles

vs. SAF class · 2000–2026 baseline
15

Athletic composite

15thPOOR

1 of 6 metrics graded

1× Solid
4.50s58thSOLID
i

40-Yard

vs. 659

i

Vertical

No data

i

Broad

No data

i

3-Cone

No data

i

Shuttle

No data

i

Bench

No data

Frame measurables · arm / hand / wingspan

31

Athletic composite

31stBELOW AVG

2 of 3 metrics graded

1× Solid1× Replacement
29.31stREPLACEMENT
i

Arm

vs. 229

9.460thSOLID
i

Hand

vs. 229

i

Wingspan

No data

College career · ESPN

Career stats

SeasonTeamTOTSOLOASTPDSACKFFINTYDSTD
2022TEX251312100000
2023TEX4828202003450
2024TEX7840381021290
2025TEX703832110200
Career22111910214317540