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For now anyway Authentic Nate Solder Jersey , Jamar Taylor seems the odds-on favorite to win the cornerback job opposite Patrick Peterson, a chore that's loaded with action since that's the direction most opponents decide to throw.

Last week, the Arizona Cardinals sent a 2020 sixth-round draft pick to Cleveland in exchange for Taylor, who started 29 games for the Browns the past two seasons.

"It means another opportunity," Taylor said after he practiced Wednesday, the second day of the Cardinals' voluntary workouts this week. "Obviously, they (the Browns) didn't have me in their plans up there. It is what it is. I felt like I did what I needed to do up there as far as help change the culture. I was very loyal to the Browns, but letting me go, it definitely puts another fire in my gut to come out here and ball out."

First-year coach Steve Wilks said Taylor might be the leading candidate but he has to earn the job.

"I think when you look at what he's done on paper, I think you can say that," Wilks said, "but once we get out on the field, it's a clean slate for everybody."

Taylor said he understands that.

"I've always got 100 percent confidence in myself," he said. "But at the same time, you've got to put the work in. You can't just come in here and be like oh, you're going to be the guy. There's a ton of guys in here that are really good. I've been watching the last couple of days. I just have to come in here and make sure I'm doing my job so I get that opportunity."

The Cardinals think highly enough of Taylor that they released another veteran cornerback, Marcus Williams http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/eli-manning-jersey , on Monday.

Wilks is known for his work with cornerbacks. He was cornerbacks coach of the Carolina Panthers before being promoted to defensive coordinator there last season.

"I'm excited," Taylor said. "I've watched his defenses a lot. I'm a big film guy. Just seeing him when he was with Carolina, knowing him when he was with San Diego. I had some old friends that played for him. I've heard what type of coach he is and then seeing out there the past couple of days, it's amazing. This whole organization is a great organization."

Asked what he thinks of Taylor, Wilks said, "When you look at him over the time, particularly a couple of years ago when he had his best season on the other side of (Joe) Haden, to make plays on the ball, extremely smart. He's physical and I love the way he tackles. We take a lot of pride in that, of course I do, in making sure our cornerbacks tackle."

Taylor's three career interceptions came in that 2016 season opposite the longtime standout Haden and he said he welcomes the challenge of playing opposite Peterson.

"It's just more plays for whoever's over there," Taylor said. "More plays, that's how you've got to look at it. More opportunities for you to get picks. When I went to Cleveland, I played opposite Joe Haden. That meant more plays that year. I made a lot of plays on the ball. Playing opposite from a guy like Pat, it's a huge deal, you've got to hold your own."

The Browns went 1-31 in Taylor's two seasons there, but the losing didn't wear him down Falcons Justin Bethel Jersey , he said.

"I've always felt like I was a winner," he said. "I rarely lost in high school, didn't really lose in college. My mindset was just worry about what I can do on the field. If that meant staying late and making sure I had my job right, that's what it meant. I just always tried to keep the other guys together, because in the NFL you could win or lose by three points, two points, one point. Every Sunday is different."

Taylor, and especially his wife Mackenzie, are happy to be moving out West. She grew up in suburban Phoenix. He was a second-round draft choice by the Dolphins out of Boise State in 2013.

"She's more of a topic than I am," he said. "We're both excited. I've been waiting to play on the West Coast my whole career. I went to Miami and all the way north to Cleveland. So I'm happy to be kind of close to home. I know she's happy to be around her family. We're going to definitely have way more support at games now."

Three years ago, a little-known and undersized running back out of Abilene Christian led the Kansas City Chiefs in rushing, filling in admirably for an injured Jamaal Charles.

These days, Charcandrick West finds himself fighting for a job.

That alone is a sign of just how much deeper and more talented the Chiefs' stable of running backs is this season. Kareem Hunt led the league in rushing as a rookie, but there is a crush of ability and experience nipping at his heels.

"There's a good number of backs here that we have," offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said, "and we're very, very blessed and fortunate. We just want to watch these guys compete."

These guys: West http://www.panthersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-donte-jackson-jersey , who managed just 72 yards on 18 carries last season; Spencer Ware, who led the Chiefs in rushing two years ago before sustaining a season-ending injury in preseason; Kerwynn Williams, who started six games last season for Arizona; Damien Williams, who appeared in 58 games over the past four seasons in Miami; and Darrel Williams, perhaps the biggest dark horse of the bunch.

Williams backed up Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice the past few years at LSU, a big reason why he went undrafted this past April. But many scouts believe he has the talent to succeed, noting he averaged 5.7 yards a carry last season 鈥?better than Guice, a second-round pick.

"I probably say this every year, but the talent pool has gotten deeper," Bieniemy said. "I look forward to it. Why? Because it brings out the best in each and every one of them."

There are a multitude of reasons why the Chiefs have invested so heavily in the position.

For one thing, the value of running backs has swung back to the positive after many had written them off in the era of the pass-happy NFL. Offensive coordinators have started to utilize them in creative ways, employing them as pass-catchers and blockers along with running.

No wonder three running backs were selected in the first round of the draft, and four more in the second round, headlined by Saquon Barkley going to the Giants at No. 2 overall.

Then there's the misfortune that has befallen Kansas City at the position.

Twice the franchise lost Charles to season-ending injuries in his prime, the first time resulting in Jackie Battle leading the team in rushing. Then, after Ware's transition from fullback to running back led to a breakout season, he tore up his knee in last year's preseason game against Seattle.

The Chiefs were fortunate that Hunt emerged as a bona fide star Adidas Nicklas Backstrom Jersey , but they nonetheless headed into the season with a relatively shallow backfield. West handled some spot duty, and Akeem Hunt and an aged C.J. Spiller saw action, but it was quarterback Alex Smith that was second on the team in rushing.

General manager Brett Veach hardly wants new quarterback Patrick Mahomes II to do likewise

"In my mind and obviously in Brett's mind 鈥?because he's the one who did this 鈥?you can't have enough of those guys," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "We figured, listen, if we have a chance to get good players lets go ahead and better ourselves, let the competition be there and see what happens. I'm expecting Spencer to be back, but you never know, and you've got kids that can play."

The depth has already paid off the first week of camp, giving Hunt a chance to rest a stiff hamstring Friday and Ware an opportunity to slowly get back into game shape.

"I've never shied away from competition," Ware said. "My ultimate goal is to make my team better and to get better as a player 鈥?to make myself more valuable for my team and let them be able to use me in any way they can."

NOTES: Rookie FS Armani Watts was back on the field Saturday after tweaking his ankle. "He needs reps now," Reid said. "If you're going to make this team you have to show it." ... West took a shot to the head during the team's first padded practice and was being evaluated by team doctors.

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