Alontae Taylor: Declaring Himself the Top Free Agent Cornerback

New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor isn’t shy about his self-assessment as he enters free agency. In a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Taylor confidently stated, “I’m one of the best free-agent players coming out. I definitely feel like I’m the best free-agent corner coming out.” He attributes this confidence to his exceptional versatility.

“Just that versatility, man. Being able to play inside, play outside, and be able to help any team at whatever they need. Feeling like I could possibly be that CB1 for a team, and if I ever have to go into the slot to guard your best receiver who you move into the slot, I’ve shown that I can go in there and play comfortably. I feel like I bring a lot of attributes to the table. Like I said before, I do feel like I’m one of those best guys available, and I feel like a lot of teams out there feel the same way.”

Rising Star in the NFL

While Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com ranks Taylor as the third-best corner available and No. 30 overall, others believe his value could translate into a significant contract. NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero suggests Taylor could land a surprisingly hefty deal. Drafted by the Saints in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Taylor quickly established himself as a key player in the team’s defense.

A Versatile Defensive Back

Over 64 career games, Taylor’s statistics demonstrate his adaptability. He’s consistently among the league leaders in passes defended, joining Tariq Woolen and Patrick Surtain II as one of only three players with 10+ passes defensed in each of the last four seasons. Beyond coverage, Taylor has accumulated an impressive 293 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, seven sacks, four interceptions, and three forced fumbles.

His role has evolved since entering the league. Initially a boundary corner, Taylor has seamlessly transitioned between outside and slot coverage based on the Saints’ needs. His snap counts reflect this flexibility: 581 snaps outside as a rookie, shifting to 739 slot snaps in 2023, and back to 625 outside in 2024. He even saw a career-high 172 snaps in the box last season.

Looking Ahead: Free Agency and Beyond

As Taylor prepares to navigate free agency for the first time, he expresses gratitude to the Saints for the opportunity they provided but is eager to explore his options. “We’ve had conversations and negotiations, man, and ultimately I feel like I’m very appreciative of the time out there,” he said. “I’m very appreciative of them taking a chance on me and giving me an opportunity, but super excited to just kind of see what free agency has to offer.”

Recent NFL Free Agency Moves

The NFL free agency period is already heating up with several notable moves:

• Mike Evans is expected to sign with the San Francisco 49ers.
• The Saints are signing running back Travis Etienne (4 years, $52 million) and guard David Edwards (over $15 million/year).
• Wan’Dale Robinson is heading to the Tennessee Titans.
• Tyler Linderbaum is nearing a three-year, $81 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
• Malik Willis is set to sign a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins.
• Michael Pittman is being traded to the Steelers.
• Jaelan Phillips is signing a four-year, $120 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.
• Kenneth Walker III is joining the Chiefs.
• Alec Pierce is re-signing with the Indianapolis Colts (4 years, $114 million).

For a comprehensive overview of all NFL free agency activity, check out NFL.com’s free agency tracker. And in a surprising turn, Travis Kelce will return to the Kansas City Chiefs for his 14th season.