Alontae Taylor

Alontae Taylor Bio

Alontae Devaun Taylor is an American professional football cornerback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. Born on December 3, 1998, in Winchester, Tennessee, Taylor has established himself as a promising player in the NFL since being drafted in 2022.

Early Life and Background

Alontae Taylor attended Coffee County Central High School in Manchester, Tennessee. During his high school career, he played quarterback and accumulated impressive statistics, totaling 8,225 yards of offense and scoring 75 touchdowns. His performance earned him a spot in the 2018 Under Armour All-American Game, showcasing his potential as a future football star. Following high school, Taylor committed to the University of Tennessee to continue his football career at the collegiate level.

Path to American Football

At the University of Tennessee, Alontae Taylor played under head coaches Jeremy Pruitt and Josh Heupel from 2018 to 2021. Initially, he played as a wide receiver before transitioning to cornerback prior to his freshman year. Taylor quickly became a starter, participating in 31 of 45 career games and finishing his college career with 162 tackles, four interceptions, one pick-six, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. He opted to sit out the 2021 Music City Bowl to prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft, where he aimed to make a significant impact in professional football.

Alontae Taylor Career

Early Career (2022)

The New Orleans Saints selected Alontae Taylor in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, making him the 49th overall pick. He was the eighth cornerback chosen in that draft class. On July 19, 2022, Taylor signed a four-year rookie contract worth $7.20 million, which included $3.45 million guaranteed. He entered training camp as a backup cornerback, competing for a spot on the depth chart.

Breakthrough (2022-2023)

Taylor made his professional regular-season debut on September 11, 2022, in the Saints’ season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Although he only played limited snaps on special teams, he quickly became an integral part of the team’s defense. After being placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury, he returned to the active roster and earned his first career start on October 20, 2022. In his rookie season, he appeared in 13 games, starting the last nine, and recorded a total of 46 combined tackles and 11 passes defended.

Notable Works and Milestones

Taylor’s performance in his rookie season laid a solid foundation for his career. He showcased his skills as a reliable cornerback, contributing significantly to the Saints’ defense.

2023 Season

In the 2023 season, Taylor entered training camp as a backup cornerback but quickly secured a starting role as the nickelback. He recorded impressive statistics, including a career-high five pass deflections and his first career sack during a game against the Green Bay Packers. By the end of the season, he had appeared in all 17 games, starting 13, and finished with 75 combined tackles, two interceptions, and 14 passes defended.

2024 Season

As the 2024 season began, Taylor was projected to return as a backup but soon found himself competing for the starting nickelback position. He set a franchise record for the most sacks in a single game by a defensive back, achieving three sacks against the Carolina Panthers. Taylor’s performance continued to improve, and he finished the season with four sacks, 89 tackles, 16 passes defended, and two forced fumbles.