The Seattle Seahawks struck again in the latest stage of free agency, agreeing to terms with cornerback Jamar Taylor one day after reaching a deal with pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah. Taylor is a six-year NFL veteran who has played for four different teams since he was selected in the second round out of Boise State back in 2013. He was at his best in 2016, when he recorded three interceptions for the Browns. He earned a very solid 77.7 grade from Pro Football Focus that season, ranking 16th in the league among cornerbacks. He was solid again in 2017 but had an extremely rough 2018 season. Playing for the Cardinals and the Broncos, Taylor only earned a 39.4 grade from PFF, which ranked No. 129 out of 131 qualifying cornerbacks. Jamar Taylor earned a coverage grade of 39.4 last season, ranking 129th out of 131 qualifying CBs. His career-high was in 2016, when he earned a coverage grade of 77.7, ranking 16th out of 132 CBs. #Seahawks https://t.co/DKp64ve3qC — PFF SEA Seahawks (@PFF_Seahawks) May 9, 2019 Carroll and the Seahawks are known for signing players who have previous NFL success but are coming off rough campaigns, so this signing definitely fits their mold. Plus, Taylor has experience playing in the slot and on the outside, which could make him a candidate to be either Seattle’s starting nickelback or a versatile backup who can fill in at multiple positions. New #Seahawks' CB Jamar Taylor's snap breakdown last season: D-line: 5 Box: 36 Slot CB: 10 Wide CB: 250 Free safety: 4 — PFF SEA Seahawks (@PFF_Seahawks) May 9, 2019 The terms of Taylor’s contract have not been revealed, but it is unlikely that he has guarantees, so he is effectively coming into camp to try to win a job in Seattle’s crowded secondary. Shaquill Griffin and Tre Flowers are locked into their roles on the outside, and Seattle has Akeem King, Kalan Reed, Jeremy Boykins and Neiko Thorpe in the fold as well — not to mention rookie Ugo Amadi, who played a surprising amount in the slot during rookie minicamp. That list could also include Derrek Thomas and Davante Davis, two undrafted free agent corners whom Seattle signed after the NFL draft. With so many bodies in camp and only a few spots available, Taylor will have to work hard to prove that he is capable of being the player he was in 2016, and not the player he was last season. If he is able to do that, he could carve out a very important role for the Seahawks in 2019.<doc-sep>Getty Images Ziggy Ansah isn’t the only veteran free agent headed to Seattle. NFL Media reports that the Seahawks are set to sign cornerback Jamar Taylor as a free agent. Taylor visited with the team last month. Taylor was a second-round pick by the Dolphins in 2013 and has spent the last few years moving between teams. He was traded to the Browns in 2016 and then traded from Cleveland to Arizona last May. He played in 10 games with the Cardinals before being released and landing in Denver for the final month of the season. He had 18 tackles between the two teams and has 219 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles over the course of his career. The Seahawks saw Justin Coleman sign with the Lions as a free agent in March and Taylor will be the first veteran addition to the group this offseason.<doc-sep>The big news for the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday is of course that they are flying Ziggy Ansah, formerly of the Detroit Lions, to Seattle in order to sign a one-year contract. However, in addition to signing Ansah reports have now emerged that the team is also set to sign a veteran to compete for the slot cornerback roll left empty when Justin Coleman departed for the Lions. Veteran nickel CB Jamar Taylor is in Seattle today and going to sign with the #Seahawks, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. More defensive help to add to the Ziggy Ansah signing. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 9, 2019 Jamar Taylor was a second-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2013, and spent the last couple Seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals. Before anyone asks, his arms are 30-3/4" in length, meaning he definitely seems to fall solely in the slot cornerback role for the Seahawks who prefer longer corners on the outside. So, the Hawks are indeed set to sign two veteran players Thursday, but only one of them is an edge rusher. Taylor will step into a defensive backs room that is very, very young, where he and safety Bradley McDougald will be the elder statesmen. If nothing else, the training camp competition for the nickel cornerback role will certainly be interesting.<doc-sep>
The Seahawks appear to just be getting started in the late stages of free agency. Less than a day after agreeing to terms with free-agent pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah, the team has announced the signing of nickelback Jamar Taylor. The NFL Network reported Thursday morning that the six-year veteran was in Seattle to sign the contract. RELATED: Report: Ex-Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch once asked for $5,000 ... in quarters With Justin Coleman's departure to the Detroit Lions in free agency, the nickelback role became an area of need for Seattle. Taylor figures to compete for the job in training camp with defensive backs Jeremy Boykins, Kalan Reed, Akeem King – who was retained by the Seahawks this offseason on a one-year deal worth a maximum of $2.05 million – and rookie Ugo Amadi. Listed as a free safety, Amadi has the versatility to play nickel. In fact, during Seattle's rookie minicamp last weekend, the Oregon product spent most of his time there in team scrimmaging. "He's a very well-versed football player and had no problem," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of Amadi at rookie camp. "He played nickel and safety. Played a lot of nickel in the camp, which was good. More than I thought he would. And he was very comfortable there." RELATED: Source: Seahawks expected to sign free-agent DE Ezekiel Ansah Taylor spent 2018 with both the Cardinals (10 games) and Broncos (four), posting 18 combined tackles, a pass deflection and a forced fumble in 14 appearances – including three starts. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound cornerback spent his first three NFL seasons with the Dolphins before getting traded to the Browns. He spent two years in Cleveland, before getting dealt to Arizona. Taylor has played 78 games in NFL, including 41 starts. All three of his career interceptions came in 2016 with the Browns. He was a 2013 second-round pick by the Dolphins out of Boise State. Ben Arthur covers the Seattle Seahawks for the SeattlePI. He can be reached by email at benjaminarthur@seattlepi.com. Follow him on twitter at @benyarthur.