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10 things to know about new Bills DB Taylor Rapp

Here are 10 things to know about new Buffalo Bills safety Taylor Rapp:

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Was a Super Bowl starter

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Rapp comes to the Bills as a surprise move mostly because he is taking a role that likely isn’t a full-time starting one…and he just was that for a Super Bowl winner.

Rapp was a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 out of Washington. He has made 57 appearances over his career, which has included 48 starts.

The 25-year-old has not missed a game over the past two seasons, starting each and every game in that time. Included in that was the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Versatile addition

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

It’s not exactly clear what Rapp is going to do for the Bills at this time. He has started at safety, but with Jordan Poyer re-signing in Buffalo, there is not a starting place for Rapp there.

But Rapp is extremely versatile. He has a skill set that features the ability to play as a box defender and close to the long of scrimmage. The Bills might end up getting creative with their packages to include Rapp in such a role as well.

At worst, Rapp will be a top backup at safety and potentially slot cornerback.

Turned down rival

(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Some expected Rapp to be signed much sooner than now. That doesn’t mean others weren’t interested.

According to Rams Wire, both the Cincinnati Bengals and an AFC East rival of the Bills, the New England Patriots, had interest in Rapp. The player even had a free-agent visit in New England but opted for Buffalo.

Heritage

Rapp’s personal background is quite a unique one.

At the top, Rapp is a Chinese American, a culture he is proud to represent. Previously he created a NFT to support Asian-American causes.

But that’s just the start. Rapp is a dual citizen. He grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has family that lives in Seattle’s Chinatown area.

However, Rapp was actually born in Atlanta, Ga. His mother is Chinese and his father is from… Canada. Rapp has dual citizenship to the United States and Canada because of that.

Prior to being drafted by the Rams, NFL legend and fellow Asian-American football player Hines Ward sent Rapp a video of encouragement. Check it out below:

Down for this yard game

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Aside from football, Rapp’s athletic passions center around a… yard game. He previously revealed to the Rams’ website that his favorite sport outside of football is Spikeball.

“It requires a lot of quickness and good hand-eye coordination. I picked it up in college playing with some teammates, but haven’t really played much lately,” Rapp said.

Meat on meat on meat

We live in a day and age where there are various diets that different people follow. Athletes are known to do this, in particular.

Rapp’s diet? It’s an animal-based one.

Here’s one of his social media posts to Instagram relating to his diet:

A proposal to beat them all

Ever win the Super Bowl? Ever go win a Super Bowl and then decide to propose to your girlfriend on the field afterword?

Rapp did:

Outdoorsman

Rapp likes to spend plenty of his time outdoors. Most notably on his social media, Rapp shows off his abilities as an angler.

That’s one massive fish:

Fight with teammate

There’s one player Rapp might not be too fond of when the Bills play the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins landed cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a trade with the Rams this offseason.

During a contest between the Rams and Baltimore Ravens, Ramsey took a shot at Rapp in the Los Angeles huddle when the two were teammates. The Rams went on to beat the Ravens and it’s likely that Rapp would downplay what happened now, but this wasn’t a good look for Ramsey:

Fav flick

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

“The Pursuit of Happyness” is Rapp’s favorite movie. He also called Will Smith, who stars in the flick, his favorite actor. 

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