Atlanta Falcons: Can Kelvin Taylor make the roster?

The Atlanta Falcons signed Kelvin Taylor, son of former NFL running back Fred Taylor, but can he make the 53-man roster at a crowded spot?

At just 23-years old, running back Kelvin Taylor is now on his fourth NFL team. It’s not a positive sign for a player just entering his second season, but there is some hope that he can still carve out an NFL career after showing he can perform at a high level during his final season at the University of Florida.

Taylor rushed for 1,035 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2015 and his performance led to him being a sixth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. He would spend the majority of the season on their practice squad before being cut. He finished out the year on the Seattle Seahawks squad, but then was let go early in the 2017offseason. Technically he was then a part of the Kansas City Chiefs, although the simply claimed him in May and cut him four days later.

Now Taylor is getting another shot as the Falcons picked him up following what was considered a good workout by head coach Dan Quinn.

"“In the workout, he moved good and caught the ball well,” Quinn said via JuliaKate E. Culpepper of the Atlanta Journal-Consitutional. “He did enough to even get a few reps in practice today. He had some familiarity with the system here based on the system he had been in. That part helped him get caught up a little bit.”"

Although Taylor was productive in college, he’s most well-known for being the son of former Jacksonville Jaguars great Fred Taylor — who was also a running back. The senior Taylor rushed for 11,271 yards in 11 seasons with the Jags. He then spent two more years with the New England Patriots where he added another 424 yards to his career total.

While Kelvin Taylor has yet to show that same ability, he’s an intriguing name for sure. With Atlanta stacked at the position, it brings up the question as to whether or not he can make the final roster. The first instinct is to say no with Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman and probably Brian Hill all locks for a spot. However, in theory either Taylor or Terron Ward could show enough to warrant a fourth back.

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The problem is Taylor would have to show his worth on special teams to do so. In short, he probably only makes the team if an injury happens, making him a likely practice squad candidate.