Leonard Taylor’s Rise from Waivers to AFC Championship X-Factor Is Classic Patriots
After back-to-back 4-13 seasons, the New England Patriots are suddenly one win away from the Super Bowl. It’s been a stunning turnaround, sparked by a franchise-wide reset that began with the firing of head coach Jerod Mayo and the hiring of Mike Vrabel. And now, with the AFC Championship Game looming, one of the most unexpected contributors to this playoff run is a defensive tackle who didn’t even start the season on the roster.
Leonard Taylor’s journey from the New York Jets’ practice squad to becoming a key piece of the Patriots’ playoff push is a story that feels ripped straight from the Foxborough playbook. Signed off the street in mid-October, Taylor has gone from overlooked to indispensable - and his timing couldn’t be better.
From Afterthought to Asset
Taylor's NFL season began quietly. He appeared in just two games for the Jets, logging a pair of solo tackles before being waived.
New England scooped him up shortly after, adding him to their practice squad. At the time, it barely registered as a blip on the radar.
But as the season wore on, Taylor started to flash - and by the time Week 17 rolled around, he was making noise in the trenches.
Since then, he’s emerged as one of the league’s most efficient interior pass rushers. According to Patriots insider Taylor Kyles, Taylor ranks top-six among interior defensive linemen in both pressures and pass rush win rate since Week 17. That’s not just solid production - that’s game-changing impact from a player who was cut midseason.
Filling a Crucial Void
Taylor’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time. With Harold Landry’s status uncertain due to injury, the Patriots needed someone to step up and stabilize the defensive front. Taylor has done just that - providing interior disruption that’s helped free up edge rushers and collapse the pocket from the inside out.
He’s not doing it alone, either. Fellow defensive lineman Cory Durden - another waiver wire pickup - has also become a valuable rotational piece. Together, they’ve given New England’s front seven a jolt of energy and depth, the kind of late-season reinforcements that can swing playoff games.
It’s a testament to the Patriots’ front office and coaching staff. Finding Taylor and Durden on the waiver wire, and then getting real production out of them, speaks to both the team’s eye for talent and Vrabel’s ability to get the most out of his guys.
Vrabel has always been known as a players’ coach - someone who understands how to put his roster in the best position to succeed. Taylor’s breakout is just the latest example.
Eyes on Denver
Now, the Patriots are preparing to face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, and Taylor is no longer just a feel-good story - he’s a factor. No, he’s not going to single-handedly win the game. But if he keeps generating pressure up the middle and disrupting the pocket, he could tilt the field just enough to give New England the edge.
For a team that’s built its identity on physicality, discipline, and timely contributions from unlikely sources, Taylor fits the mold perfectly. He’s not flashy.
He’s not a household name. But right now, he’s playing like someone who belongs on this stage.
And if the Patriots do punch their ticket to the Super Bowl, don’t be surprised if Leonard Taylor’s name is one of the reasons why.