Last year, the Chicago Bears traded a 6th round pick for guard Dan Feeney. Nobody thought much of it at the time. It was purely a depth move. This year, they did the same thing, sending a 6th rounder to Seattle for edge rusher Darrell Taylor. It would be easy for people to have the same reaction. He’s nothing more than a depth option. However, people should know by now that all trades aren’t created equal. There are good reasons to think that Taylor will not only have a much bigger impact than Feeney but could be an outright steal.
For one, the former 2nd round pick has been productive. He has 21.5 sacks over three seasons in the NFL. That is not insignificant. It means he should be able to get you around 5-6 sacks every year. That is everything you could want from a rotational pass rusher. Where it gets interesting is in one key detail. Joining the Bears means Taylor will play in a 4-3 defense for the first time since his rookie year in 2021. That is something the man himself admitted he is excited about.
It isn’t hard to understand why.
When the Seahawks drafted him, he played under defensive coordinator Ken Norton, who ran a 4-3 system. Taylor had 6.5 sacks, 8 QB hits, and 36 pressures. A year later, Norton was fired. His replacement, Clint Hurtt, shifted the team to a 3-4 defense. That meant Taylor had to play outside linebacker instead of defensive end. While he did have 9.5 sacks in 2022, he only had 27 pressures and 4 QB hits. Last season wasn’t any better, with 5.5 sacks, 3 QB hits, and 27 pressures. Part of the problem was the new scheme gave him around 40 fewer rush opportunities per year, reducing his overall impact.
That won’t be the case in the Bears’ defense. Matt Eberflus runs a Tampa-2 variation that demands the defensive line constantly shoot gaps, disrupting the opposing backfield. That is where Darrell Taylor is at his best. His quickness, burst, and athleticism make him a challenge for tackles when he gets up the field. Chicago likely recognized that when they pursued the trade for him.
