By any metric, safety Michael Taaffe leaves Texas football as a Longhorn legend.
Don’t believe it? Here’s a quick biography from his five seasons at Texas: an Austin native who grew up a Texas fan; a local hero who helped lead Westlake High School to back-to-back state championships; a walk-on at Texas who immediately became a special teams standout; a scholarship earner, then a starter, then multiple All-American selections.
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Now, Taaffe will try and continue to beat the odds by becoming the 12th player from Westlake to play in the NFL. Here is how Taaffe projects in the the 2026 NFL Draft after being taken by the Seattle Seahawks:
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Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) celebrates an interception during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Michael Taaffe bio
Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) high-fives fans while heading into the stadium ahead of the Lone Star Showdown, the rivalry match-up between the Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 28, 2025.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
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Notes: Didn’t have any recruiting stars out of Westlake and originally committed to Rice as a walk-on… played in 53 games with 36 starts at Texas… earned second-team All-American honors from the Associated Press in 2024… received all-conference honors in both the Big 12 and the SEC… ended his career with 222 tackles, seven interceptions and 21 passes defended.
Michael Taaffe scouting report
Strengths: Film junkie with good instincts who excels in presnap route recognition… versatility in coverage and comfortable matching up in the slot or with tight ends off the edge… physical at contact with receivers and in run support… projects as an immediate special-teams star.
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Weaknesses: At 189 pounds, can have trouble shedding blockers in run support… sometimes dips helmet looking for big hit, which can lead to missed tackles or targeting calls… has short-area quickness but lacks elite speed, which hurts in vertical coverage.
What our reporter noticed: Taaffe’s value to the Texas defense proved most evident when he missed a month in midseason with a broken hand; without the safety directing traffic, the Longhorns had trouble lining up in the secondary and endured a rash of coverage busts. Taaffe provided a security blanket of sorts because of his understanding of the defensive scheme, and that ability to get everyone lined up correctly could help him see early playing time in the NFL — if he can avoid being overwhelmed by the size and speed of the next level.
NFL player comp:Joshua Martellus, Minnesota Vikings
Michael Taaffe draft profile
Arm length: 29¼ inches
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40-yard dash time: 4.5 seconds
10-yard split: 1.58 seconds
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Michael Taaffe draft projections
Most draft projections see Taaffe as a Day Two pick, which includes the second and third rounds. Based on Taaffe’s status as outside of most top-10 rankings for safeties, that seems high, but Taaffe’s reputation as a player that can make an immediate impact on special teams helps his cause. The NFL Combine and the Texas pro day could prove decisive, since NFL scouts still question Taaffe’s linear speed and athletic ability.
Michael Taaffe stats by season
2022: 13 games played, 26 tackles, 0 interceptions, 1 pass breakup
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2023: 14 games played, 48 tackles, 3 interceptions, 5 pass breakups
2024: 16 games played, 78 tackles, 2 interceptions, 12 pass breakups
2025: 10 games played, 70 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups
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