Leonard Taylor III

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Leonard Taylor III
2025 NYJ Training Camp Question - DT Leonard Taylor III.png
Taylor with the New York Jets in 2025
No. 93  New England Patriots
Position Defensive tackle
Roster status Practice squad
Personal information
Born (2002-05-29) May 29, 2002 (age 23)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight305 lb (138 kg)
Career information
High school Miami Palmetto (Pinecrest, Florida)
College Miami (FL) (2021–2023)
NFL draft 2024: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Tackles 24
Sacks 1.5
Pass deflections 1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Leonard Taylor III (born May 29, 2002) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.

Contents

Early life

Taylor was born on May 29, 2002, in Miami, Florida, and attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Pinecrest, Florida. [1] As a senior, he had 51 tackles, five sacks and an interception in seven games. He was selected to play in both the 2021 Under Armour All-America Game and 2021 All-American Bowl. [2] [3] A five-star recruit, Taylor committed to the University of Miami to play college football. [4] [5]

College career

Taylor played in nine games as a true freshman at Miami in 2021, recording 21 tackles and two sacks. As a junior in 2022, he had 24 tackles, three sacks and an interception. [6] [7] [8] Taylor declared for the 2024 NFL draft following the 2023 season. [9]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 3+12 in
(1.92 m)
303 lb
(137 kg)
33+78 in
(0.86 m)
9 in
(0.23 m)
5.12 s1.76 s2.96 s4.71 s7.68 s30.0 in
(0.76 m)
9 ft 1 in
(2.77 m)
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [10] [11]

New York Jets

Taylor signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024. [12] Taylor made the Jets initial 53 man roster out of training camp as a UDFA.

On October 14, 2025, Taylor was waived by the Jets. [13]

New England Patriots

On October 16, 2025, Taylor signed with the New England Patriots' practice squad. [14]

References

  1. "Leonard Taylor Defensive Tackle Miami". nfldraftbuzz.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  2. Ramos, Gus (December 9, 2020). "University of Miami Commit Leonard Taylor Welcomed to 2021 All-American Bowl with Virtual Jersey Presentation". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  3. Ramos, Gus (August 10, 2020). "Five-Star Prospect Leonard Taylor Commits to 2021 All-American Bowl". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  4. VanHaaren, Tom (August 6, 2020). "Canes land DT Taylor, No. 5 recruit in Class of '21". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  5. Wilson, David (August 6, 2020). "Leonard Taylor, five-star defensive tackle and part of 'Palmetto Five,' commits to Miami". Miami Herald. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  6. Chaney, Luke (September 29, 2022). "Leonard Taylor III Emerging as Budding Star on Miami's Defense". SI.com. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  7. How a meeting with Mario Cristobal changed Leonard Taylor’s season and ‘opened his eyes’
  8. Degnan, Susan Miller (November 1, 2022). "Heart-to-heart meeting with Cristobal, mom turns Miami's Leonard Taylor into fierce D tackle". Miami Herald. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  9. Miller Degnan, Susan; Jackson, Barry. "Miami DT Leonard Taylor signs with rapper Lil Wayne's agency, to enter NFL draft". Miami Herald. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  10. "Leonard Taylor III Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  11. "2024 NFL Draft Scout Leonard Taylor III College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  12. Greenberg, Ethan; Pullano, John (May 3, 2024). "Jets Sign 17 Undrafted Free Agents". NewYorkJets.com.
  13. Weir, Susanna. "Jets Release DL Leonard Taylor III". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  14. "Patriots Make Changes on the Practice Squad". Patriots.com. Retrieved October 16, 2025.