The Washington Commanders' rookie minicamp concluded without Gabe Taylor being offered a deal initially. That doesn't mean it won't happen, but those in power want to examine all options before committing one way or another.
This was the biggest storyline of minicamp. That's unusual to say for someone coming in for a tryout, but this wasn't just anybody.
It was the brother of a Washington legend. The late, great Sean Taylor.
The former Rice safety chose Washington over other offers. Taylor has a deep connection to the franchise that goes way beyond the gridiron. This is a lifelong dream to walk in his brother's shoes. Whether it was for a short time or not is moot — it's a mission he accomplished.
Dan Quinn gives promising outlook for Gabe Taylor despite no Commanders deal arriving (yet)
According to reports throughout minicamp, Taylor did himself justice. His speed was noted by the coaching staff during drills. His attitude was always going to be first class, and this would have been a tremendous learning curve for the NFL hopeful, whether a formal offer arrives or not.
Dan Quinn acknowledged that Taylor and others got off to a good start. They got a firm indicator of what's expected under his leadership, and the head coach believed it was a worthwhile experience for everybody involved.
I love seeing players like him and others really going for it. It’s been very worthwhile for him and the other guys to say, ‘OK, I’m seeing what (the Commanders) are, what they stand for.’ … Now, we start creating a list of who’s next, how do you utilize the guys? So, all those guys are off to a good start.Dan Quinn via The Athletic
Taylor was always going to be a long shot to make it into training camp. It's a heartwarming story, but Adam Peters is running the Commanders with very little sentiment attached. If he's not entirely convinced, he'll go in a different direction.
Regardless of what the future holds for Taylor, he can hold his head high. The defensive back could have shied away from Washington, especially considering the phenomenal impact made by his sibling before he was tragically killed at just 24 years old. Instead, he embraced the challenge of following in his footsteps.
What the future holds for Taylor is anyone's guess. But based on Quinn's comments and the reports from those in attendance, he couldn't have done anything more to catch the eye.
Everything else is out of his hands. However, Taylor won't have any regrets whatsoever.
