Taylor Mays is no longer a member of the Cincinnati Bengals after being released on Saturday just ahead of training camp.
NEWS: #Bengals release S Taylor Mays
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) July 23, 2016
An intriguing prospect when he came out of USC in 2010, Mays combined excellent size (6-foot-4, 238 pounds) and raw athleticism. Unfortunately for the San Francisco 49ers, who drafted him in the second round that year, he also proved to be ineffective as a safety.
Appearing in 80 games over the course of his six years in the NFL thus far, Mays started just 15 contests and never was more able to keep the job once he landed it. To this point in his career, he has failed to register a single interception and has been utilized mostly as a special teams player.
After spending last year with the Oakland Raiders, Mays was signed to a one-year contract by the Bengals worth up to $840,000. However, only $25,000 was guaranteed, making it easy for Cincinnati to cut him and make space for another player with more potential to contribute in a meaningful way.
Though it’s possible Mays could be picked up by another team, it is just as possible that his career is over.