Why Arizona Cardinals rookie Dadrion Taylor-Demerson already loves the Valley
A first name with three syllables. A last name with a hyphen. A nickname based on quickness.
Meet Rab. Formally known as Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, a rookie safety for the Arizona Cardinals drafted last month in the fourth round.
"Rab" is short for "Rabbit," what many of those who know the former Texas Tech star call Taylor-Demerson. Not a bad moniker to have for a defensive back whose speed, physicality and quickness will be tested against NFL skill position players and blockers this season.
"I introduce myself in traditional settings like Dadrion, but if I see you again or if I feel like the setting is right, I introduce myself as 'Rab' or 'Rabbit,'" he said. "My mom calls me Dadrion, my dad calls me Dadrion, but occasionally my mom will call me Rabbit. She's the only one I don't let call me that. I love my name. Dadrion is very unique. I don't care what you call me. My mom calls me Cletus sometimes. She just throws names at me."
Arizona was where Taylor-Demerson wanted to be as the draft unfolded. He felt at home right away when he hit the practice field at the Cardinals facility for rookie mini-camp last week. His best friend moved to Mesa during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Taylor-Demerson would come out during summers to visit. He even thought of retiring in the Grand Canyon State before joining the Cardinals.
Knowing that safety was a position the Cardinals wanted to address in the draft and being chosen by the team made it an even better fit.
"I felt like this would be a great position for me to come in, bring my personality and then my physicality to this team, and some character to the squad as well," Taylor-Demerson said.
Taylor-Demerson has found some similarities in his college defense and coordinator Nick Rallis' Arizona defense. He's enjoying learning the new terminology and digging into why specific calls are made in given situations, while also honing his technique and having football as a job.
"Everybody needs a versatile safety, so I just want to come in and assert myself on the team any way I can," Taylor-Demerson said. "Shoot, I might not play this year. I might play next year. I might play special teams. However it takes to win. I'm a true team player. I want the team to win, I want this place to go very far. So, I believe the people in this community and this state deserve it."
Talk of the town: Arizona Cardinals' season ticket sales surge for 2024, team officials say
The rookie has two experienced and outstanding safeties to learn from in Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson. He wants to show them he's ready to play right away.
"It would be very selfish of me, to the man above, for me to come into this building and not do what he destined me to do," Taylor-Demerson said, "and that's not learn the playbook, not play hard, be a bad teammate."
Cardinals sign two more draft picks
The Cardinals on Tuesday announced that second-round draft pick Max Melton and offensive lineman Isaiah Adams, one of their third-round choices, signed four-year contracts. That makes seven of 12 rookie draft picks who have signed their first NFL contracts for the Cardinals.
Melton is the highest drafted player to have signed thus far.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rookie Dadrion Taylor-Demerson wants Arizona Cardinals to win
