Sixth-round pick out of Pittsburgh whose senior season was cut short by a knee injury but who is fighting for a role on the Chargers' line.
Branson Taylor was a five-year fixture on Pittsburgh's offensive line before the Chargers took him in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Built at 6-foot-6 and over 300 pounds, he profiles as a tackle-to-guard convert who is still working to carve out a permanent roster spot.
Path to the league
Taylor played for Pittsburgh from 2020 to 2024, appearing in 45 games with 21 starts and serving as a team captain in his final season. He primarily played left tackle in college, though evaluators viewed a move inside to guard as his best fit at the next level. A season-ending knee injury midway through his 2024 senior year pushed him toward the draft. Los Angeles selected him with the 199th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2025 draft.
Career highlights
Taylor took over as a starter in 2023 and helped anchor a Pittsburgh line that allowed just 23 sacks that season, fifth-fewest in the ACC. His five years of starting experience and team captaincy as a senior made him one of the more experienced linemen available in his draft class.
2025 season recap
As a rookie, Taylor was waived in the Chargers' final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, but was immediately signed to the practice squad. He remained there through the season before signing a reserve/futures contract with Los Angeles on January 13, 2026.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Branson Taylor
- ESPN: Branson Taylor
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Guard
- Group
- offense
- College
- Pittsburgh
- Hometown
- Lorain, OH, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
