One more to go.
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, the Cardinals fourth-round selection, signed his four-year contract with the team on Thursday, leaving only third-round running back Trey Benson as unsigned out of the team's 12-man draft class.
A safety out of Texas Tech, Taylor-Demerson declared the Valley was his top choice during the draft process. The Cardinals made that goal possible, using the 104th pick in the draft to turn in his card.
Taylor-Demerson had four interceptions in 2023 and 10 throughout his collegiate career. He was a member of the All-Big 12 team as well. He never played defense until he arrived on his college campus after playing running back throughout high school.
With his offensive background, Taylor-Demerson's speed has been a valuable trait for the defensive back. It allows him to cover a lot of grass, hence the name 'Rabbit,' a nickname he earned back when he first started to play football at five years old.
Fortunately for the rookie, he joins a room with another talented safety that isn't shy of running all across the gridiron in six-time Pro Bowler, Budda Baker. Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis said Taylor-Demerson's tape is comparable to that of those he'll share a position room with.
"I feel like the safety room we have now, and Rabbit coming in, fits that skill set of combination of being able to cover slots and also play deep zones," Rallis said. "It fits right into a lot of those guys that we already have in the room and we highly value that at that position."
In the first few weeks of the offseason program, a whirlwind of information has been thrown in the rookie classes direction. For Taylor-Demerson, he's where he wants to be, both in the Valley and in the league.
"No one believes how true it could become until you get to that point where I'm knocking on the front door, I just need to get the key so I can open it," Taylor-Demerson said. "That's where I'm at. I got the key and I need to open it. Now it's time to furnish the house. With that comes the learning part, make it fun, that's all I got to do, man. I love the game."
