Jaguars reportedly set to sign OLB Willie Taylor III of XFL’s Renegades

The Jacksonville Jaguars plan to sign outside linebacker Willie Taylor III of the XFL champion Arlington Renegades, according to his alma mater Eastern Kentucky.

The 6’2, 246-pound linebacker recorded four sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, and eight tackles for loss in 12 games with the Renegades.

Taylor played the majority of his collegiate career for the Washington State Cougars before transferring to Eastern Kentucky for his senior season. With his new team, he recorded two sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2022.

While playing with the Renegades, Taylor was eligible to be picked in the 2023 NFL draft.

“I think he’ll get an opportunity,” Renegades executive Rick Mueller told XFL.com of Taylor. “Whether he’ll get drafted or not doesn’t really matter — I don’t think to me or to him. He certainly has earned it, has done a good job and will get a chance in that league. That’s all you can ask for.”

In Jacksonville, Taylor will join a roster that is thin at outside linebacker. The team was near the bottom of the league in sacks last season and allowed both Arden Key and Dawuane Smoot to reach free agency. While the team drafted Yasir Abdullah in the fifth round in April, there’s still very little depth at the position.