Alontae Taylor is the forgotten man in the defensive backfield of the New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints may have the best cornerback unit in the NFL. Despite lacking a consistent pass rush, the Saints gave up an average of 207 yards per game through the air last season, ranking 11th in the league.

In 2023, opposing quarterbacks completed less than 60% of their attempts against New Orleans’ coverage. Only two wide receivers managed more than 100 yards against them, with eight others totaling more than 80, as the Saints allowed just two 300-yard passers in their 17 meetings.

This success came despite elite cover corner Marshon Lattimore missing the last seven games with an ankle injury. Even without Lattimore, the unit showed impressive talent and depth and was able to keep most of the receivers it faced in check.

The cornerback crew got even stronger this season with the addition of Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry in the second round. Lattimore returns healthy, as does Paulson Adebo after a stellar season last year.

There’s one cornerback in New Orleans who was often overlooked in offseason discussions. Perhaps because he had a bit of a slump after a strong performance as a rookie in 2023, but he will likely still be a big part of the defense’s success this season.

Alontae Taylor

Alontae Taylor came to New Orleans from Tennessee as a somewhat surprising second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. At 49th overall, Taylor was the 13th defensive back and ninth cornerback. Taylor went a bit under the radar in the draft, but had four interceptions, 15 passes intercepted and six tackles for loss in his final three seasons with the Volunteers.

As a rookie, Taylor played little on defense in his first two games before being sidelined for four weeks with an injury. After his return, he took on a much more prominent role in the secondary.

Lattimore missed 10 games due to injury and Adebo had a bit of a dip in form after being slowed by an ankle injury early in the season. As a result, Taylor was the team’s best cornerback for much of the season.

Taylor led the Saints with 11 passes intercepted in 2022. He officially recorded no interceptions, but two were taken back for questionable penalties. When targeted, he allowed only a 48.5% completion rate, an impressive number considering the high man coverage he played.

Entering last season, the Saints had a strong cornerback trio of Taylor, Adebo and the returning Lattimore. A standout performance from veteran CB Isaac Yiadom only strengthened the position. In an effort to have their best players on the field, the Saints often used Taylor as their primary slot cornerback.

Taylor had some difficulties playing at a position he was somewhat unfamiliar with. This was especially evident against smaller, nimble slot receivers. Over the course of the year, Taylor allowed a nearly 61% completion rate when targeted and scored four touchdowns. Those aren’t bad numbers, but his inconsistency at the position hurt the defense in crucial moments.

Taylor still showed he was a playmaker, recording two interceptions and breaking up 14 passes, which ranked second on the team. His six tackles for loss were the most among New Orleans defensive backs, as he recorded 56 solo stops among his 75 total tackles.

Taylor also showed his effectiveness as a blitzer, having one sack and three pressures while also causing some disruption as a run defender.

Taylor is an extremely physical cornerback at 6’1″ and 195 pounds and also has outstanding agility in coverage. His average change of direction can cause problems against quick wideouts, but Taylor has the speed and physicality to take on any receiver in the NFL.

Taylor, just 25, would be the number one cornerback on several teams. He’s best as an outside cornerback, but his slot duties in 2023 have only increased his versatility. Some have even speculated about a possible move to safety due to his physicality and ball skills. That speculation grew even louder with the signing of McKinstry.

Alontae Taylor has received a shockingly small amount of mention in discussions about key defenders for the Saints in 2024. That’s an oversight. Expect Taylor to play multiple roles in the secondary, with his coverage and playmaking skills being critical to the success of New Orleans’ defense this season.