Steelers A to Z: Big, undrafted WR Roc Taylor has opportunity to show what he can do

Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

WR ROC TAYLOR

Experience/age: Rookie, 22

Contract status: $850,000 cap hit if he makes the team in 2025, signed through 2027

The past: Coming out of high school in Alabama, Taylor initially committed to Tennessee but ended up spurning the SEC school for Memphis. Over four seasons playing for the Tigers, Taylor had 163 catches for 2,375 yards and seven touchdowns, but the bulk of that production came over the past two seasons: 135 catches for 2,033 yards and six touchdowns in 26 games. He was named to the all-American Athletic Conference team as a senior playing for a Memphis team that went 11-2 and beat West Virginia in a bowl game. Taylor had five catches for 116 yards in that postseason win, capping a 2024 season with 66 catches for 950 yards and two touchdowns.

85 days until Memphis Tiger football and here's Roc Taylor's 85 yard touchdown catch and run to stretch the Tigers 4th quarter lead against South Florida in 2023. Memphis won the game 59-50 pic.twitter.com/cIOWskw4mx

— Jeb Hill (@memphistigerjeb) June 5, 2025

2025 outlook: Measuring 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds, Taylor was an NFL combine invite. After playing exclusively on the outside in college, he has some tools that can translate to the pro game. Earning a $30,000 bonus as an undrafted free agent, Taylor was clearly something of a priority for the Steelers. They did not draft a receiver, were relatively thin at the position headed into the offseason and in May traded away the player who had been their WR1 the prior two seasons (George Pickens). After DK Metcalf, the WR depth chart is thin. This indicates an opening for an undrafted free agent such as Taylor or Ke’Shawn Williams. Taylor certainly doesn’t lack confidence, saying in the wake of the Pickens trade, “That spot opened — I’m gonna go out and get it.”

Taylor did not play special teams in college. He had better show an ability and willingness to do it in the pros if he is to have any chance whatsoever to make the active roster as a rookie. But perhaps Taylor shows enough during camp and the preseason that he makes the practice squad as a developmental prospect.