Is it because he shares a surname with the head coach? Or is it some perceived special teams value? Or can he challenge Jalen Davis for snaps at nickelback? Whatever the reason, the Cincinnati Bengals just made a strange free-agent signing to add depth to their cornerback position.
Ja'Sir Taylor isn't exactly a world beater as a slot cornerback. He's missed 19.6% of his career tackles, and has yielded a 112.9 passer rating, per PFF. From a pure on-field reps standpoint, though, he has logged more snaps at nickel than Davis has.
Anyway, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Taylor signing in Cincinnati. The 27-year-old vet last played for the New York Jets, and was with the Los Angeles Chargers before then.
Bengals sign Ja'Sir Taylor to one-year contract in dubious depth move that presents pre-draft confusion
Many believe the Bengals will be in the market for a safety/nickel type in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Ohio State's Caleb Downs is a fan favorite and a hopeful target. Oregon's Dillon Thieneman fits the bill, too.
With an early run expected on front seven defenders, Cincinnati could have its pick of the litter on defensive backs. Now that Taylor is in the fold, though, will that change the front office's thinking?
The Bengals always do weird stuff in the draft, especially on Day 1. They tend to draft succession plan players, or prospects who aren't expected to start right away. We've seen this play out with Dax Hill, Myles Murphy, Amarius Mims, and Shemar Stewart.
Although Davis and Taylor are only on one-year contracts, last year's undrafted free agent, Bralyn Lux, is someone I also like as a possible nickel of the future. That makes me all the more bewildered as to why Ja'Sir Taylor was the free-agent addition Cincinnati felt compelled to make at this point in time.
In the Bengals' official post on the "big" Taylor news, they note that he has 21 career special teams tackles. That's cool, but letting Tycen Anderson walk in favor of him sure feels like an odd strategy.
Whenever Cincinnati does something like this, there's a quiet expectation that a corresponding move will make it make more sense. Said corresponding move typically never arrives.
All due respect to Ja'Sir Taylor, I'm completely unmoved by him joining the team. Instead of worrying about the fringes of the final 53-man roster, it'd behoove the Bengals to show Joe Burrow they actually care and make some meaningful acquisitions at this point in the offseason.