By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS — Now that they have traded away their top cornerback, the New Orleans Saints will be looking at a revamped position group for the rest of the season and beyond. One player that should be the cornerstone of the cornerback room is slot corner Alontae Taylor.
The former Tennessee Volunteer was a career perimeter corner during his collegiate days and made an immediate impression filling in there during his rookie season in New Orleans. But in 2023, he was moved inside to the slot where he struggled having to learn an entirely new position.
The move created some frustration, but ultimately Taylor accepted the new role and took some major steps forward. Proving to be a very disruptive player in the role, Taylor quickly became one of the team’s most improved pieces year over year.
Trading Marshon Lattimore now sets him and rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry to be the leaders of the secondary moving forward along with veteran safety Tyrann Mathieu.
Taylor is a fierce competitor and has proven to be a technique-sound and aggressive boundary cornerback. While the Saints move along their 2024 season evaluating talent, he will not be keenly in focus as the new top dog at the position.
In his 100 snaps at outside corner so far in 2024, he has been targeted just six times allowing three catches for 63 yards. Taylor’s coverage has been outstanding working against the boundary and now that should be his full-time role moving forward. As safety Ugo Amadi or another option moves into the slot, Taylor should be on the outside.
He will need to work his way out of being involved in explosive plays. While the majority of those came from his work in the slot, if he can minimize those at wide corner, the outlook of his future is promising.
The Saints need someone that can bring energy to their defense and grow into the next leader. They will need lockdown play on the perimeter and someone that can take the ball away and get it back to the New Orleans offense. If Taylor can check those boxes and plays aggressively, the ceiling to his future in New Orleans only raises. It’s entirely in his grasp now to set himself up as a leader and top producer for this Saints’ defense.
Taylor has a tattoo behind one of his ears that reads “I’M HIM.” Now he should be given the chance to prove it.
