Former Hurricanes star loses $600,000 despite landing with Jets

The 2024 NFL Draft was a joyous time for the 257 players selected and fan bases of every franchise. However, not all ended as expected. Former Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle Leonard Taylor dropped entirely out of the draft despite ranking as a top 50 talent prior to the 2023 season.

The New York Jets undrafted free agent signee suffered career lows across the board, totaling 19 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and only one sack. He missed two-plus games due to an injury but was projected to still be drafted because of his athleticism for a 6-foot-3, 303-pound pass-rusher. Taylor surely thought so as well, as he passed on a $600,000 NIL deal to stay in Miami, per Zach Soskin. 

Soskin, co-founder of Voltage Management as an athlete advocate, is intimately associated with deals like this. 

Instead of landing a guaranteed four-year deal that would've netted Taylor close to $3.5 million if he stayed on the active roster each week. Now, he'll benefit from a modest signing bonus and fight to make an active roster.

Active roster players earn at least $705,000, while inactive players earn $430,000 annually. Practice squad players can make as little as $12,000 a week or $216,000 a year. It's still good money, but it's far from guaranteed to convert into long-term wealth.

This is a tough fall from grace for Taylor. The former 5-star recruit is only 21 years old but can't return to Miami since he surrendered his eligibility for the NFL. Though he was touted for his athleticism, his mediocre combine dampened expectations.

The NFL draft process also brought some character concerns for the former Hurricane. 

In his "The Beast" NFL draft guide, CBS Sports expert Dane Brugler noted, “Overall, Taylor doesn’t lack for talent, but the raw physical tools aren’t enough, and won’t deliver consistent on-field production until he develops a more disciplined approach. While there is untapped potential there, it will require a patient coaching staff and complete buy-in from the player for him to work his way into an NFL rotation.”

Considering Taylor could've stayed in Coral Gables to earn a cool $600,000 while boosting his NFL stock, this was possibly an all-time fumble and a lesson for future prospects.