Less than a season into his NFL career, former Longhorns legend Michael Taaffe is joining impressive company. Through seven games, the Austin native has two interceptions. He is the first Miami Dolphins player since Patrick Surtain in 1998 to record multiple interceptions in his first six games. 

While Taaffe has a small sample size, being linked to Surtain is an impressive achievement. He finished his NFL career with 37 interceptions and 538 total tackles. During his time with the Dolphins, Surtain also made three Pro Bowls, a feat that Taaffe also hopes to achieve. If Taaffe can match Surtain's production, taking him in the fifth round will be a steal. 

For those who have watched Taaffe's development, his stellar play comes as no surprise. During his time as a Longhorn, the former walk-on had 222 total tackles and seven interceptions. He also had 21 pass deflections and became a key piece of the defense. 

Although his statistics were impressive, Taaffe also filled his trophy case. He earned multiple SEC honors and was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Burlsworth Trophy. The Dolphins rookie also made 2025 preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, and Lott IMPACT Trophy. That is partly why Miami didn't pass up the chance to add him to their secondary.

With the regular season far from over, Taaffe has plenty of time to solidify a spot for next season and show why he should be a key piece of the Dolphins' future.