Alontae Taylor gave the city of New Orleans two separate goodbyes before free agency made it to the legal tampering period. They weren't full on goodbye messages, but it didn't take much reading between the lines to see what the New Orleans Saints defender was saying. On the first day of free agency, Taylor agreed to a 3 year, $60 million deal with the Tennessee Titans,
Taylor's contract breaks down to $20 million per year over the course of the next 3 seasons. For a reference point, Taylor earned slightly over $7 million dollars in his first four seasons combined. He's off his rookie contract, and making his brief time on the open market count. What's even better for Taylor is his contract is only three years.
The quick turnaround to the open market means Taylor can collect again right as he hits 30 years old. That's a pretty solid deal for a player in his position. It's the best of both worlds as far as money and duration are concerned. It's also a contract the Saints should and would have never offered him.
Saints would been crazy to try to compete with the Titans for Alontae Taylor
The reason everyone knew Alontae Taylor was going to leave New Orleans in free agency is his role with the Saints was too limited for what other teams would offer. For $20 million a season, Taylor needs to be an outside cornerback. In New Orleans, he's most proven on the inside. This deal from the Titans sends a clear message that Taylor will been an outside cornerback for them.
If Taylor would have continued in his current role for the Saints, this would have been a gross overpay. Quincy Riley's rookie campaign and the strong finish to 2025 for Kool-Aid McKinstry give reason for optimism around the duo as the outside corners of the future. That would have kept Taylor playing primarily in the slot.
$20 million for a slot corner is just impossible to justify. Kyler Gordon is the highest paid player at the position and he averages $13.3 million per year. Taylor is a valuable piece of the Saints defense, but he wouldn't set the market by $7 million dollars.
Taylor maximized his value, and it likely wasn't even a long conversation with the Saints. He'll play a more valuable position monetarily, and the Saints will look for