No instincts, only straight line speed, paralyzed stiff hips, not smart, but otherwise he has potential. Even if he moved to some sort of hybrid OLB/monster back position he would still have to be able to play football, something he can't do.

It's not his junior year at USC anymore when the myth turned into legend about his physical attributes. Absolute horrible football player. The most I would do is give him a look as a non-guarantee FA just to see what he has got. Maybe some coaching would help, but probably not.

Giving up a first for him would ensure one thing: we will be right back to the beginning of expansion era maneuvers again by clueless Dwight Clark types in the FO. No thanks

Yeah dixon and minnifield I would take in a second, I would even take stevon moore

@pumpkin-eater said:

I wasn't aware it was the safety's job to cover.

This was a joke right????

@wrrebel said:

once again. this guy blows..

I dont understand, im all for adding good players. But trading for this guy would be a waste!!

I would rather bring back Felix Wright

I wouldn't mind having Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon either, if we are going to bring back former Browns DBs from the 80s.

(or did you mean Eric Wright?)

@cribbs-is-the-man said:

NO WAY! A 3rd and a 6th to play next to Ward? That would be a downgrade, I wouldnt give more than a 5th. Neither Ward nor Mays are very good in coverage. They play the same position, STRONG Safety. Neither are a good fit for Free Safety, esp considering Mays' biggest criticism is taking bad angles, bad in coverage, and not known for making big plays (yes he hits hard, but doesnt get interceptions which FS's are supposed to do). Ward and Mays would not make a good safety tandem, a lot of you all are delusional.

And the comment at the top of the page "since when is it the safety's job to cover"... UMM ALWAYS!?! they are the last line of defense, they give help to the corners when they are burned or cover in zone.. a lot of times Ward (or the SS) will come up and provide run support, but their main task is to cover, esp the FS..

You're talking like this guy is old and washed up! We're talking about a guy in his second year and who many people out there wanted the Browns to take in the first round last year! I am glad that we didn't, but I really think this kid can be coached and can be an impact player...no, not a superstar, but definitely and impact guy. There's talk of a 1st or 2nd rounder for the guy...I agree, that would be entirely too much. But offering up a 3rd or possible a 3rd and a late pick would not be a bad deal. How many 6th rounders become stars...or even starters!?

@lcdawgfan13 said:

I say at least make an offer. I think playing alongside Ward, Mays could be a good addition. Ward's ability clearly would help him. Now, I don't think anyone will offer a 1st. And I don't think the Niners will even get a 2nd out of him. I think a 3rd is what they will have to accept...at best maybe a 3rd and a 6th. I think he'd be worth that much. Young could move to CB and we'd have one hell of a secondary!

NO WAY! A 3rd and a 6th to play next to Ward? That would be a downgrade, I wouldnt give more than a 5th. Neither Ward nor Mays are very good in coverage. They play the same position, STRONG Safety. Neither are a good fit for Free Safety, esp considering Mays' biggest criticism is taking bad angles, bad in coverage, and not known for making big plays (yes he hits hard, but doesnt get interceptions which FS's are supposed to do). Ward and Mays would not make a good safety tandem, a lot of you all are delusional.

And the comment at the top of the page "since when is it the safety's job to cover"... UMM ALWAYS!?! they are the last line of defense, they give help to the corners when they are burned or cover in zone.. a lot of times Ward (or the SS) will come up and provide run support, but their main task is to cover, esp the FS..

based on physical attributes. That doesn't mean all the intangibles can make the jump to the NFL.

It's dumb - he lost his starting job to this guy, for cryin out loud.

Reggie Smith #30 Safety San Francisco 49ers Team Home

NewsTeam ReportBlogsScores & ScheduleStatsRosterDepth ChartTransactionsPhotosHeight: 6-1 Weight: 200

Born: Sep 3, 1986 - Edmond, OK

College: Oklahoma

Draft: 2008 - 3rd round (12th pick) by the San Francisco 49ers

THANK YOU BROWNS, for draftng Ward !!!!!!

*************************************************

From NFL draft scout:

*****************

Post-Draft Outlook: COULD SURPRISE: Safety Taylor Mays -- In watching film of him at USC, the 49ers noticed he typically played 20 yards off the line of scrimmage. The 49ers plan to play him in the box in run support.

A closer look at the 49ers' picks: Round 2/49 -- Taylor Mays, S, 6-3, 230, USC: He's a physically gifted player who toppled out of the first round because teams did not see him make many plays on film. In four seasons as a college starter, Mays recorded just five interceptions, with four of those coming in his first two years. - by The Sports Xchange

Taylor Mays/Southern Cal football Videos

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Draft Scout Taylor Mays News

08/04/11 - S Taylor Mays is available in a trade, with the 49ers alerting the 31 other teams via email, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 49ers signed Madieu Williams and still hope to re-sign Dashon Goldson. New coach John Harbaugh, who was hired away from Stanford, is very familiar with the former USC product.

03/13/11 - S Taylor Mays became a starter early in the season but was pulled after being victimized in pass coverage. Mays' change-of-direction and ball skills are dubious and he will be a challenge for the incoming coaching staff.

12/28/10 - S Taylor Mays will see extra playing time this week after being demoted midway through the season. Mays started the team's Week 4 game against Atlanta, but he struggled in deep coverage in subsequent weeks and eventually was replaced by Reggie Smith in the starting lineup.

@tim-couch-pulls-out said:

I understand his coverage skills leave something to be desired. He had a hard time covering NFL receivers as a rookie. As. A. Rookie.

But, once again, not the reason he's being traded. A contributing factor? Maybe. But by all accounts it's because of the firing of Singletary.

Not many teams look to trade a rookie simply because of a bad rookie season. Especially not ones drafted in the first two rounds.

He couldn't cover worth a shit in college either. He was just a head-hunting missle looking to injure guys. Ask Jordan Norwood about the head to head Mays put on him in the Rose Bowl. He was out of it big time. Left the game and then came back in a couple plays later and caught a TD. Norwood is one tough MF in spite of his size. Really pulling for the kid to make the team this year....

@tim-couch-pulls-out said:

I understand his coverage skills leave something to be desired. He had a hard time covering NFL receivers as a rookie. As. A. Rookie.

But, once again, not the reason he's being traded. A contributing factor? Maybe. But by all accounts it's because of the firing of Singletary.

Not many teams look to trade a rookie simply because of a bad rookie season. Especially not ones drafted in the first two rounds.

Whoa- if the guy was a playah, it wouldn't matter who drafted him. We're unloading this stud saftey because our ex-coach drafted him? Unlikley. It's damn near unheard of to unload a guy drafted that high after one year. He has to suck about as bad as David Veikune.

Physical freaks don't necessarily do well in the NFL. If track speed was all that mattered for a WR, Reynaldo Nehemiah would be in the HOF.

You would think this guy went to ohio state or something..

If we are building through the draft then why give up a draft pick for a guy who can't play??

@nw220 said:

Taylor Mays is terrible im glad we took Ward over him,theres no wonder San Fran is trying to trade him he cant cover for shit.

The highest id even consider would be a 4th and people are talking about a 1st are you serious??? He couldnt even crack the lineup for the Niners and you name there starting safteys.

I wasn't aware it was the safety's job to cover.

@nw220 said:

49ers SS Taylor Mays lost his starting job after just five games during the season because he struggled in pass coverage.

This was the book on Mays coming out of USC. Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area suggests that, "It might be that it's asking too much of him, at his size, to change direction and hang in coverage against NFL receivers." According to Pro Football Focus, opponents completed a whopping 81.3 percent of their passes and averaged 20.2 yards on completions into Mays' coverage. He created just one turnover (a Week 5 forced fumble) in 16 games.

http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/nfl/5760/taylor-mays

I understand his coverage skills leave something to be desired. He had a hard time covering NFL receivers as a rookie. As. A. Rookie.

But, once again, not the reason he's being traded. A contributing factor? Maybe. But by all accounts it's because of the firing of Singletary.

Not many teams look to trade a rookie simply because of a bad rookie season. Especially not ones drafted in the first two rounds.

This was the book on Mays coming out of USC. Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area suggests that, "It might be that it's asking too much of him, at his size, to change direction and hang in coverage against NFL receivers." According to Pro Football Focus, opponents completed a whopping 81.3 percent of their passes and averaged 20.2 yards on completions into Mays' coverage. He created just one turnover (a Week 5 forced fumble) in 16 games.

http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/nfl/5760/taylor-mays

@nw220 said:

Probaly is he cant cover worth a damn, he may be a physical freak but if you cant cover he might wanna consider moving to Linebacker..He couldnt make an impact in SF and they now have two new safteys, that really says something.

The reason he's on the block isn't because his lack of coverage abilities. It's because San Fran never wanted to get him in the first place. He was a Singletary pick, through and through. Now Singletary is gone, and Mays isn't wanted.

A rookie got one year to make an impact and is now on the trading block.

So, by that reasoning, we should trade Hardesty, because he is a physical freak who can't stay healthy ever. Same for Shaun Lauvao.

@nw220 said:

Taylor Mays is terrible im glad we took Ward over him,theres no wonder San Fran is trying to trade him he cant cover for shit.

The highest id even consider would be a 4th and people are talking about a 1st are you serious??? He couldnt even crack the lineup for the Niners and you name there starting safteys.

He did crack the lineup for the 9ers, he started 6 games at safety. He replaced Michael Lewis, a former second round pick. He was opposite Dashon Goldson, who could be a pretty decent safety.

I did all that without looking anything up. So, yes...I can name their starting safeties.

if football was all about being fast and combines the raiders would win every year...

That's it trade him to oakland, there just dumb enough to take him

@tim-couch-pulls-out said:

He's got Adrian Wilson size, Ed Reed speed and he hits like Sean Taylor.

Problem is he cant cover worth a damn, he may be a physical freak but if you cant cover he might wanna consider moving to Linebacker..He couldnt make an impact in SF and they now have two new safteys, that really says something.

Homotron said:

lol. What? Taylor Mays hasn't been that good in SF. Why else do you think the guy is on the block. A Ward/Mays tandem also wouldn't be a safety dream team. What land of delusions do you reside? It would be a waste to go hard at Taylor Mays. Giving up a first or in your case two firsts would be highway robbery.

I never said we give up two firsts. I said we have two firsts, therefore giving up a first rounder wouldn't leave us overly xxxxed.

C'mon Homo, you're better than that.

I live in the land where Taylor Mays is 6'3, 220 lbs, and runs a sub 4.4 40. In some cases, a sub 4.3. He's got raw athletic talent, and with the right coaching can be a freak.

He's got Adrian Wilson size, Ed Reed speed and he hits like Sean Taylor.

The highest id even consider would be a 4th and people are talking about a 1st are you serious??? He couldnt even crack the lineup for the Niners and you name there starting safteys.