The 2026 Panini Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to showcase themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Texas safety Michael Taaffe plans on taking full advantage. Taaffe recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Taaffe also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his play style at safety, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Taaffe better ahead of his journey to the Panini Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite, and what was your initial reaction?
Michael Taaffe: I was actually just hanging out with some of my buddies. It was late in our season already. I had seen a bunch of Senior Bowl invites on social media already. I was starting to stress out a little.
I placed my faith in God’s timing. I was with my buddies when I got the call. I told them on the spot, I don’t think people do this, but I’m ready to accept my invitation on the spot. I let them know right then and there that I’d be attending.
I can’t wait to get to Mobile.
JM: It doesn’t sound like you needed much convincing, but what motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Michael Taaffe: I did a lot of studying on the Senior Bowl when I was debating to declare for last year’s draft. I understand what the Senior Bowl has to offer. There are a lot of potential benefits.
If I go in and play well against the best of the best in Mobile, it could really do wonders for my pre-draft stock. As soon as I got the call, I knew I wanted to compete.
JM: What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Michael Taaffe: My M.O. is that I’m a smart and instinctive player. I’m a high-energy guy and a great teammate. I’m a good leader. I want to prove I’m all that and more in Mobile. I’m a versatile player.
I’m faster than people think I am. I’m more elusive in space than people think. I play bigger than advertised. I’m a physical player who plays bigger than my build indicates. Hopefully, I can show everyone I’m not a one-trick safety. I’m an all-around safety who can fit in multiple schemes.
JM: I’m going to expand on that. You’re versatile, and you have great size for the safety position. How would you write your own scouting report? Self-scout yourself for us.
Michael Taaffe: My scouting report should say I can play in the middle of the field. I can be that low-hole player, the high safety. I can play split-safety in Cover 4. I love playing in the middle of the field. I think it really highlights my skills and ability to always be around the ball.
It shows on tape. I’m always around the ball. I can dissect how the offense is trying to attack us. I always know how to counter their approach. As a defensive player, my ability to see things from the offensive side of things is a real asset.
I can read a 3rd-and-2. The ball’s on the 50-yard line, it’s 3rd-and-10, I can dissect how the offense wants to attack us, especially when I’m in the middle of the field. I’m also a willing, strong tackler.
I’m very versatile. I can come downhill in the box and cover slot receivers. Obviously, I played three years in a Quarters system at Texas. I’m very comfortable with Quarters. I just finished two years in a one-high safety system. I’m very versatile.
The key to my game is my preparation. That’s the advantage I have over my teammates. I always like to say, if I enter a room with somebody, no matter if it’s the best safety in the country or a walk-on who became a starter like myself, it could take me one day or 10 years, I’m eventually going to surpass them. It’s all about my work ethic and my preparation.
JM: That’s a phenomenal answer. If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL player, who would you choose and why? Anyone in particular you try to study and learn from?
Michael Taaffe: I wouldn’t necessarily compare myself to anyone at the moment, but I love watching Jessie Bates III. He’s a really, really instinctual player. He’s not a t-shirt and shorts guy. He might not flash in the athletic testing.
Turn the tape on and you immediately see Jessie Bates’ impact. He’s so instinctual. You can easily tell that he’s one of the best players on the field at all times. You can see that his preparation goes a long way. He’s very confident.
I had an opportunity to talk to Jessie Bates. Bijan Robinson and I are close friends. Obviously, he’s teammates with Bates. Bijan put me on the phone with him. The one thing he said that stuck with me was, “It’s not good luck. Go be great.” I kept that with me.
Jessie Bates is always trying to hunt a big play. He’s never satisfied. I think that’s really cool.
JM: I remember interviewing Jessie Bates III when he was going through his pre-draft process. That’s a great story with Bijan Robinson putting you on the phone with him. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Michael Taaffe?
Michael Taaffe: I’m going to be a great teammate, a great leader in Mobile. I want to help lead the other players in attendance. I think it’s really cool that we’re all at the Senior Bowl chasing our dreams together.
I want scouts to leave the Senior Bowl and say Michael Taaffe is a versatile player who can do it all. I want to be somebody who can come in and start in year one for any organization.
