By Ross Jackson
One of the most popular standouts from New Orleans Saints OTAs this year was cornerback Alontae Taylor.
With a new defensive system incoming that will elevate his role as a disruptive playmaker, hopes are high for the fourth-year corner.
The road hasn’t been smooth for Taylor, but he’s met every challenge that’s been presented. He arrived in New Orleans and was thrust into action as a perimeter corner earlier than expected due to injuries to his position group.
He was stellar there, locking down big-named wideouts like DeAndre Hopkins (of the Arizona Cardinals at the time) and then-Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams.
Alontae Taylor’s rookie tape was really impressive.
8 PBUs & allowed a 48.3% completion rate (3rd). Elite potential as a press corner pic.twitter.com/n2PUFLUJyo
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) July 14, 2023
Despite his strong performance on the outside, cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo were at the top of the position group. When both returned in 2023 and 2024, Taylor was moved into the slot as a nickel corner. However, his role changed again when both corners dealt with injury and eventually Lattimore was shipped away to the Washington Commanders last year.
Now, Taylor looks to have finally found a permanent home on Brandon Staley’s defense in the Star role.
The role is the nickel position in Staley’s defense, one that defensive passing game coordinator Terry Joseph described in detail.
“He has a huge role because he has to be able to do a lot of different things,” Joseph said. “He has to be a good blitzer, a good tackler and in the NFL, a lot of [teams] put their best receivers in the slot. So, every Sunday, this guy has a tough challenge and throughout the week he has to train like a corner, safety and linebacker because he has to be able to handle all three facets that can show up to him.”
Taylor, who began last season with three sacks against the Carolina Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young, proved to be a Swiss Army knife of sorts in 2024. His ability as a pass rusher, in run support and in coverage all made him an early-season standout.
Keeping him in the area where he can further embrace that play style sounds like a great fit for Taylor. It’s clear that he’s comfortable with it himself.
“I think my role is going to be pretty crucial,” Taylor said following the team’s fifth OTA practice last week. “I think I’m going to help the defense out in many ways. I kind of get the feeling that I had going back to my senior year at Tennessee when we had Coach Banks come in and Coach Martinez comes in with the freedom that I have to kind of move around and just kind of play my game and not feel like a robot out there. So, super excited about it.”
The freedom Taylor is finding comes from how well he completes what he’s now being asked to do.
It’s all right in time, as Taylor enters a contract year.
“Alontae really has the skill set,” Joseph said of the corner. “And it’s a great fit for him and his mentality. Because he has that physical component of his game that he can really make the offenses account for him in a lot of different ways.”
It’s not just the defensive coaches that notice it, either. Taylor’s growth as a leader on the practice field has sparked recognition from his head coach and offensive play caller Kellen Moore.
“He is everything you want,” Moore said after the team’s final OTA practice. “He competes every day, he’s got juice, he’s got energy. He’s out there flying around. He can play a number of positions. I just feel like he’s going to become a real prominent leader for our team.”
If the Saints defense is going to rebound from a down and injury-riddled season, Taylor’s leadership, voice and play will be a large part of the story. The confidence in him possessed by staff and teammates around him is warranted.
Taylor should be a key defensive contributor in 2025. He’s already an early favorite for the team’s defensive MVP.
