There were no wide receivers working out at Texas' pro day. That's just how it shook out.

For most players, that would be someone else's problem. Show up, run your drill, get your numbers clocked, go home. But Michael Taaffe — the safety out of Texas who's been nicknamed "Wideout" for most of his college career — apparently looked at that situation and saw an opportunity to help.

So he pulled on his routes.

Taaffe lined up and ran routes to give quarterback Matthew Caldwell a live body to throw to, giving Caldwell a chance to actually show what he can do with the ball in the air. It wasn't Taaffe's pro day. It wasn't his moment. But he made it better for someone who needed it.

When asked how it all came together, Caldwell didn't hesitate.

"It was Taaffe's idea a couple of weeks ago when we were preparing together," Caldwell said. "I'm really appreciative of him that he did it. I thought he ran routes pretty well out there."

That last part tracks. The nickname isn't random — it's been earned over years of Taaffe doing things that safeties aren't supposed to do at a level that made people take notice. Apparently that includes pro day route-running at a high enough clip that the quarterback he was helping felt compelled to compliment him.

The Bigger Picture

Texas didn't have wide receivers at their pro day. That's a detail that could have quietly buried Matthew Caldwell's workout before it started.

Instead, a safety who had nothing to gain made a phone call a few weeks ago and said I'll do it. Caldwell got his throws in. Caldwell got his work. And Taaffe left the day having reminded every scout in the building exactly what kind of player — and what kind of person — he is.

The NFL Draft is full of players competing for the same roster spots. The ones who find ways to elevate the people around them tend to stick around longer than the ones who don't.

Michael Taaffe already knows that. He's been proving it for a while.