Cincinnati Bengals take Ole Miss’ Rod Taylor in seventh round of NFL Draft

Published 9:40 pm Saturday, April 28, 2018

Ole Miss’ string of Day 3 picks in the NFL Draft ended with Rod Taylor.

Taylor was taken with the 34th pick in the seventh round by the Cincinnati Bengals, who made the former Ole Miss offensive lineman the 252nd overall selection. Taylor was the third Ole Miss player drafted Saturday along with Marquis Haynes (Carolina Panthers, fourth round) and Jordan Wilkins (Indianapolis Colts, fifth round).

They join second-round pick Breeland Speaks as Ole Miss players selected, making it three straight years the Rebels have produced at least four draftees.

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Taylor started 23 games during his time at guard and tackle but ended his career playing the latter, making 19 of those starts at tackle over the last two seasons. The knock on the 6-foot-3, 321-pound Taylor leading into the draft was consistency — NFL.com projected him as a seventh-round pick or undrafted free agent — before the Bengals selected him with just five picks left in the draft.

Taylor is the second Ole Miss player to be drafted by the Bengals in the last three seasons, joining receiver Cody Core (sixth round, 2016).