CHARLOTTE — With the 166th pick, the Panthers selected Washington cornerback Keith Taylor Jr. in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday.
Taylor is Carolina's second defensive back selection of the draft, coming after South Carolina's Jaycee Horn in the first round. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound Taylor started all 13 games in the 2019 season, recording a career-high nine tackles against Hawaii.
He started all four of the Huskies' games in 2020, making nine stops and breaking up one pass.
"I kind of had a little bit of a feeling that the Panthers might take me," he said. "But you never know."
Taylor said that one of his career goals is to intercept a pass from Tom Brady. He'll certainly get that chance now, facing off against the legend as a member of another NFC South team.
Taylor has no prior connections to the Panthers, but says he's excited nonetheless. "I'm a new face," he said. "It's gonna be something new for me. So I can't wait to get started."
A native of Long Beach, Ca., Taylor attended this year's Senior Bowl in Alabama.
See photos of Keith Taylor during his time at Washington from 2017-20.
The University of Washington football team plays Hawaii on September 13, 2019. (Photography by Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures)
Washington defensive back Keith Taylor (27) breaks up a pass intended for Boise State wide receiver Octavius Evans (1) during the first half of the Las Vegas Bowl NCAA college football game at Sam Boyd Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
Stanford wide receiver Brycen Tremayne, right, catches a 33-yard pass as Washington defensive back Keith Taylor defends in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Washington defensive back Keith Taylor in action against Oregon State during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The University of Washington Huskies take on Eastern Washington University at Alaska Airlines Arena on Saturday, August 31, 2019. The Huskies beat the Eagles 47-14.
Washington defensive back Keith Taylor in action against Hawaii during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington defensive back Keith Taylor in action against Oregon State during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington head coach Chris Petersen, (L), congratulates defensive back Keith Taylor (27) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, against BYU Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Provo, Utah.(AP Photo/George Frey)
American Team wide receiver Cornell Powell of Clemson (14) tries for a catch while being defended by National Team defensive back Keith Taylor Jr. of Washington (8) during the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
National Team defensive back Keith Taylor Jr. of Washington (8) walks off the field after the NCAA college football Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
National Team defensive back Ambry Thomas of Michigan (1) makes a catch against National Team defensive back Keith Taylor Jr. of Washington (8) during the National Team practice for the Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
American Team wide receiver Marquez Stevenson of Houston (5) has his pass broken up by National Team defensive back Keith Taylor Jr. of Washington (8) before it was intercepted by National Team defensive back Damar Hamlin of Pittsburgh (33) during the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
National Team defensive back Keith Taylor Jr. of Washington (8) catches during the National Team practice for the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
