Alontae Taylor set to enter free agency

By Ross Jackson

New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor is set to enter free agency as the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 11. While there were conversations between the versatile corner and the team with the intent of working towards an extension, it appears that those efforts came up short.

Taylor posted an apparent good-bye message from his social media, thanking the city of New Orleans for his time in the community.

New Orleans – thank you for letting me shine in “The Big Easy” ⚜️

– UNO ✌🏽🙏🏽

— Alontae Taylor (@taeetaylor) March 6, 2026

The fifth-year cornerback also spoke with Sirius XM about his approach to free agency, where he downplayed the Saints’ opportunity to re-sign him and expressed his excitement to see what the market has to offer to him as one of the most disruptive defenders in the league.

“I wouldn’t say you would be wrong,” Taylor said of the potential to return to New Orleans. “I think we’ve had conversations and negotiations and ultimately I feel like I’m very appreciative of the time out there. I am very appreciative of them taking a chance on me and giving me an opportunity. But, I’m super excited to just kind of see what free agency has to offer.”

That sure sounds like the door is closed, even if not locked, on a return to the Crescent City.

Filling that void for New Orleans will not be easy. Taylor is a destructive player operating in defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s system as the “STAR” corner, a blend of slot corner, outside corner, safety and even linebacker. That’s not an easy skill set to identify let alone cultivate.

This year’s draft class, however, does offer some options. Meanwhile incumbent players like second-year cornerback Quincy Riley, versatile linebacker Isaiah Stalbird and former Pittsburgh Steelers slot corner Beanie Bishop will be among likely to be considered as well.

Assuming Taylor does indeed depart, he will finish his four-year career in New Orleans with 293 career tackles, 21 of which for a loss, four interceptions, 52 passes defended, seven sacks, and three fumbles forced.