Miami snags Trey Moore and Michael Taaffe late. Did the Longhorns miss a chance to showcase more talent, or will these late-round picks prove the doubters wrong?
Michael Taaffe's career with the Texas Longhorns is an anomaly in the current landscape of college football.
Instead of transferring to a school where he could get more playing time, the Austin native stayed true to his roots, walked onto the Longhorns program, and grinded his way to a starting role.
He made the most of that opportunity as a team captain over the last couple years, and after a strong end to his college career, his journey now continues into the NFL.
With the 158th pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dolphins have picked the Longhorns safety Taaffe.
This comes after a handful of Texas football players have been selected in the 2026 NFL Draft ...
-Second round:
No. 60 overall: LB Anthony Hill to the Tennessee Titans
-Fourth round:
No. 124 overall: CB Malik Muhammad to the Chicago Bears
No. 130 overall: Edge Trey Moore to the Miami Dolphins
-Fifth round:
No. 158 overall: DB Michael Taaffe to the Miami Dolphins.
Is there some disapppointment here? A bit of a Longhorns letdown?
Each guy will get his chance to prove that he was picked too low ...
In 53 games played (36 starts) in burnt orange, Taaffe recorded 222 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, seven interceptions and 21 passes defensed.
He was a Second Team All-America honoree in the 2024 season, and while the injury-ravaged defense for the Longhorns didn't play as well in 2025, Taaffe remained one of the key contributors and was an incredible vocal leader in the locker room in his final season.
"For as long as I can remember, I’ve bled burnt orange and white. I have given my absolute all to the University of Texas, and I am grateful for every part of my journey so far," Taaffe wrote in his statement declaring for the draft. "The highs and lows all played a part in shaping the story y’all have helped me write!"
At 5-11, 190 pounds, Taaffe doesn't currently profile like a strong safety physically, but he's among the most experienced defensive backs in the class and has a keen ability to recognize plays before the snap and communicate with his defense.
The fifth-year senior "has a good feel for play design and is assignment-oriented," according to his NFL.com scouting report. "He’s quick to read and trigger downhill to contest short routes from split safety and robber looks."
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