Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints may be walking into 2025 with a young core of cornerbacks. The most experienced corner on their roster currently is eight-year veteran Isaac Yiadom, who is followed up only by slot corner Alontae Taylor, who is entering his fourth season.
With the youth at the position, it will be tested in 2025. Quarterbacks will look to target the perimeters and try to stress the players in coverage. The unit will also face some talented wide receivers in the process.
Week 1: Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals)
Week 2: Brandon Aiuik (San Francisco 49ers)
Week 3: Cooper Kupp (Seattle Seahawks)
Week 5: Malik Nabors (New York Giants)
Week 6: Stephon Diggs (New England Patriots)
Week 7: Rome Odunze (Chicago Bears)
Weeks 8 & 14: Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Week 9: Davante Adams
Weeks 10 & 15: Tetairoa McMillan (Carolina Panthers)
Weeks 12 & 18: Drake London (Atlanta Falcons)
Week 13: Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins)
Week 16: Garrett Wilson (New York Jets)
Elite-Level Competition
With Harrison, Aiyuk and Diggs all on the schedule, the Saints’ cornerback room will see some elite competition this season. Diggs and Aiyuk haven’t gotten younger, but when healthy, they haven’t gotten less effective either.
Harrison is still finding his footing in the league as he enters his second season, but his development is likely to kick into gear quickly. The Saints will face him at his healthiest and most refreshed in Week One. It will be a challenging first matchup as the Saints implement their new defense.
Standout Veterans
Along with Diggs, the Saints will face some experienced and crafty wideouts throughout the season. Kupp, Adams and Hill are primary examples. Each may not be as impactful as they once were earlier in their careers, but they will present a challenge for the New Orleans cornerbacks because of the gap of experience that will work in their favor.
A Challenging Division
As the Panthers continue to add talent and build their roster, the team is on a fast track to surpass the Falcons in competition level at the position. Tampa is atop the group the Saints will face from the NFC South, with numerous impact players at the position. If McMillan pans out quickly, the Panthers will present a challenge with the parking of him and Xavier Leggette.
Kool-Aid McKinstry had Mike Evans clamped up pic.twitter.com/IGFCS5NZUq
— Saints Film Room (@SaintsFilmRoom) January 5, 2025
Young Potential
McMillan, Harrison, Odunze, Wilson and Nabors are all unanswered questions at the moment as young players. But each are about as sure a thing to pan out as one can be at this point in their careers. These matchups will be particularly intriguing as it will be a matchup of young potential.
Saints corners like Taylor, Kool-Aid McKinstry and potentially even rookie Quincy Riley will put their talents to the test against a long-running list of talented receiver bouts.
