Sneaky Darrell Taylor signing to practice squad

[dliverey44]

I’d like to see him be a productive member of the team for our three remaining games this season.

I think Eric Gregory (played 10 snaps vs chargers) will be inactive vs Houston because of Tonga returning. Chaisson played 43 snaps (72%), Landry had 26, Jennings 20 and Ponder 22. I think thats too much for Chaisson because I think he gets tired. Barmore and Milt played 36 and 37.

I think there are 20+ snaps out there for Taylor, but I am not sure how the inactives will play out to find room for Taylor.

 

[dliverey44]

PF2, the guy is a JAG. He was signed by the Texans for $4.75M (absolutely nothing) for 1 year (not multiple years), and then cut by the Texans after the season was over which saves them nothing (why cut him?). Literally assessed by the Texans as #53 on their roster of 53, worse player on the team, and cut.

Of course he is going to say he can really help the Patriots. He is about to drop out of the league forever and work at Walmart. Do you think this guy has a degree in investment banking or astrophysics? If the Pats cut him from the practice squad what is he going to do?

They cut him to make room for Jaylen Reed to return off IR. Sure maybe he is a JAG but he had burst off the line at one time so if any of that is there it was not a terrible pick up. From highlights he looks to be quicker than Jennings and Landry (currently).

We signed Chaisson for 1 year at 4M or so. I feel like using that is not a good barometer of the player.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

They cut him to make room for Jaylen Reed to return off IR. Sure maybe he is a JAG but he had burst off the line at one time so if any of that is there it was not a terrible pick up. From highlights he looks to be quicker than Jennings and Landry (currently).

We signed Chaisson for 1 year at 4M or so. I feel like using that is not a good barometer of the player.

The Texans have 53 men on their roster so they chose to cut Taylor to make room for Jaylen Reed before the other 52 players. You never addressed the whole point. Why didn't the Texans cut one of the other 52 guys before cutting Taylor?

Q: Taylor burst off the line at one point so why not cut one of the other 52 guys before cutting Taylor?

A: Because Taylor is a JAG. (Hint - I am being polite when I say he is a JAG).

 

[n1997y]

They cut him to make room for Jaylen Reed to return off IR. Sure maybe he is a JAG but he had burst off the line at one time so if any of that is there it was not a terrible pick up. From highlights he looks to be quicker than Jennings and Landry (currently).

We signed Chaisson for 1 year at 4M or so. I feel like using that is not a good barometer of the player.

His best season, 2022, he had 9.5 sacks.

In his first game after being traded to the Bears in 2024 he had 2 sacks and a forced fumble.

I’d be happy if he can do either of those for us. I’d be very happy if he does both.

It would be really great if he had a performance like that in his first game with the Patriots, on Sunday.

 

[dliverey44]

The Texans have 53 men on their roster so they chose to cut Taylor to make room for Jaylen Reed before the other 52 players. You never addressed the whole point. Why didn't the Texans cut one of the other 52 guys before cutting Taylor?

Q: Taylor burst off the line at one point so why not cut one of the other 52 guys before cutting Taylor?

A: Because Taylor is a JAG. (Hint - I am being polite when I say he is a JAG).

I didn't address it because I do not have that answer. Like I said he may very well not have the burst and be a JAG, but still not a terrible signing. I read that Vrabel showed interest in him during FA, I assume it would be a prove it deal. I remember a ton of people saying that Chaisson was a JAG when he signed. Houstons OL is not great, so if Taylor is called up and can give us a couple pressures its great but most importantly a breather for Chaisson.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I didn't address it because I do not have that answer. Like I said he may very well not have the burst and be a JAG, but still not a terrible signing. I read that Vrabel showed interest in him during FA, I assume it would be a prove it deal. I remember a ton of people saying that Chaisson was a JAG when he signed. Houstons OL is not great, so if Taylor is called up and can give us a couple pressures its great but most importantly a breather for Chaisson.

OK. Understood. So Taylor is a guy to provide a breather. That seems like a wasted roster spot. Hopefully Taylor is more than that. We will see if he is elevated before Sunday.

 

[n1997y]

I didn't address it because I do not have that answer. Like I said he may very well not have the burst and be a JAG, but still not a terrible signing. I read that Vrabel showed interest in him during FA, I assume it would be a prove it deal. I remember a ton of people saying that Chaisson was a JAG when he signed. Houstons OL is not great, so if Taylor is called up and can give us a couple pressures its great but most importantly a breather for Chaisson.

I saw that Taylor said he’d had conversations with the Patriots during free agency. That likely made it easy for them to strike a deal when Houston cut him. I mean, instead of going home or on vacation he’s got a shot at several playoff game checks. Or maybe even a ring…

 

[shmessy]

The Texans have 53 men on their roster so they chose to cut Taylor to make room for Jaylen Reed before the other 52 players. You never addressed the whole point. Why didn't the Texans cut one of the other 52 guys before cutting Taylor?

Q: Taylor burst off the line at one point so why not cut one of the other 52 guys before cutting Taylor?

A: Because Taylor is a JAG. (Hint - I am being polite when I say he is a JAG).

JAGs don't have 21.5 sacks over their first 3 years. His downfall in the last two years occurred when he changed teams/systems that didn't fit him.

It's worth a shot at what I'd imagine is minimum cap hit to kick the tires.

You may dismiss him as a JAG, but I'll put more weight on Mike Vrabel's opinion if that's ok.

If he is a JAG, then it's worth the few minutes to see if he has any good info on the Houston OL as he told Mark Daniels today.

.

 

[shmessy]

OK. Understood. So Taylor is a guy to provide a breather. That seems like a wasted roster spot. Hopefully Taylor is more than that. We will see if he is elevated before Sunday.

Highly improbable that they'd elevate him for Sunday.

1) See if he has any good info on that OL that he smushed against since March 2025 OTA's, Training Camp, Season Practices
2) Bring him back with the 91 in preseason 2026 and kick the tires
3) Make a decision then

Good management.

.

 

[dliverey44]

OK. Understood. So Taylor is a guy to provide a breather. That seems like a wasted roster spot. Hopefully Taylor is more than that. We will see if he is elevated before Sunday.

It PS spot so not that big a waste. If called up and he only provides a body to give guys a breather you are right it would be a waste but hopefully he has regained his burst. Thats all we are saying it that its not a bad signing for what he COULD provide if the burst is back. I also think giving Chaisson more breathers is important.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Highly improbable that they'd elevate him for Sunday.

1) See if he has any good info on that OL that he smushed against since March 2025 OTA's, Training Camp, Season Practices
2) Bring him back with the 91 in preseason 2026 and kick the tires
3) Make a decision then

Good management

They have to resign Taylor as a FA to bring him back in '26. They passed on signing him as a FA in '25 so now it is good management to sign him as a FA in '26?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

It PS spot so not that big a waste. If called up and he only provides a body to give guys a breather you are right it would be a waste but hopefully he has regained his burst. Thats all we are saying it that its not a bad signing for what he COULD provide if the burst is back. I also think giving Chaisson more breathers is important.

If the burst is back the Texans would not have cut him. Autry, who is ahead of Taylor on the Texans' depth chart, has not practiced this week. Why would they cut a guy when his burst is back and they need to play Taylor a few snaps to rest an injured Autry? Makes no sense.

 

[dliverey44]

If the burst is back the Texans would not have cut him. Autry, who is ahead of Taylor on the Texans' depth chart, has not practiced this week. Why would they cut a guy when his burst is back and they need to play Taylor a few snaps to rest an injured Autry? Makes no sense.

You are most likely correct but I am being optimistic

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

You are most likely correct but I am being optimistic

I like optimism. @PatsFan2 is an optimistic guy too. I was optimistic about White and Mapu - got stung.

Autry is injured and they still cut Taylor when he was Autry's backup. He must be toast.

 

[shmessy]

They have to resign Taylor as a FA to bring him back in '26. They passed on signing him as a FA in '25 so now it is good management to sign him as a FA in '26?

They have to resign Taylor as a FA to bring him back in '26. They passed on signing him as a FA in '25 so now it is good management to sign him as a FA in '26?

Sure! If his cap hit price is lower after this past lost year. Could they have passed on him because of his price??? Don’t they have more cap space next year?? There could be many reasons.

 

[n1997y]

They have to resign Taylor as a FA to bring him back in '26. They passed on signing him as a FA in '25 so now it is good management to sign him as a FA in '26?

Did they pass on signing him as FA?

Or did he choose to sign with Houston over the Pats?

What is the source of your information that it was the Pats that passed on him, instead of him passing on the Pats?

 

[Gumby]

OK. Understood. So Taylor is a guy to provide a breather. That seems like a wasted roster spot. Hopefully Taylor is more than that. We will see if he is elevated before Sunday.

He’s onPS. Not really wasting a roster spot, unless you talking the actives. And there depending on health, he could be a better option. But if he here for intel only, a PS spot is fine.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Sure! If his cap hit price is lower after this past lost year. Could they have passed on him because of his price??? Don’t they have more cap space next year?? There could be many reasons.

They have less cap room.in 2026.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Did they pass on signing him as FA?

Or did he choose to sign with Houston over the Pats?

What is the source of your information that it was the Pats that passed on him, instead of him passing on the Pats?

My only info is that Vrabel liked him. Since they picked him up, someone must have liked him.

He is similar and different than Chaisson. Similarly a high draft pick and slightly disappointing. But different that he flashed early and Chaisson seems to be flashing later.

 

[n1997y]

If the burst is back the Texans would not have cut him. Autry, who is ahead of Taylor on the Texans' depth chart, has not practiced this week. Why would they cut a guy when his burst is back and they need to play Taylor a few snaps to rest an injured Autry? Makes no sense.

Texans are deep at DE, not so deep at safety. They cut a safety to make room for Taylor, then they cut Taylor to make room for a safety. Taylor isn’t going to challenge Anderson or Hunter for first string, Houston has Barnett and Horton as well as Autry. And Taylor hadn’t flashed before he was hurt. They were in a roster management bind.

Taylor was on a one year deal. He may not have fit their system very well, really didn’t do anything noteworthy before he got hurt. They probably took a look at him compared to their other DEs as he was practicing to come off IR because they wanted to see if he could help in the playoffs, and decided he wasn’t enough of an upgrade to be a part of their long term plans.

They could’ve left him on IR and continued paying him until end of the year but decided they were going to cut him instead of continuing to pay him, and didn’t want to cut him from IR and pay the injury settlement. So they cut safety K'Von Wallace to activate Taylor, knowing that they had safety Jaylen Reed ready to come off IR in a few days. Essentially they cut Wallace to bring back Reed but used the opportunity to get rid of Taylor without paying him for the rest of the season on IR, or paying an injury settlement.

Now we get to see if he can contribute better in Vrabel’s system than he did in the Texans defense. It’s well known the Texans defense is what it is so maybe he just didn’t fit it, sort of like Keion White didn’t fit the Patriots defense. It would be hilarious if he returns to the level of productivity he had in Seattle from playing in the Patriots defense.