2 hours ago
2
Spring of 2026 is going to provide some exceptional opportunities for the New Orleans Saints to improve their roster heading into next season. With free agency having some big names hitting the market, and the 2026 NFL Draft being one with some good top-end talent near the front of the first round, they should be able to build a competitive roster around Tyler Shough.
Before that, though, they have work to do to retain some of their key free agents, with some notable names being Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Alontae Taylor, among others. Taylor remains one of the most divisive, as the young cornerback has shown extremely impressive flashes at times, but also has some glaring inconsistencies in his game.
Advertisement
Bleacher Report writer Alex Kay recently put out a list of free agents to be wary of for teams heading into this offseason, noting Taylor as a player who falls into this category. Here are the key reasons as to why Kay believes Taylor may be someone to keep away from this spring:
While the six-foot, 199-pounder possesses the versatility to line up both on the outside and in the slot, he's prone to gambling in coverage—an issue that occasionally costs his team dearly.
Taylor's coverage skills have regressed in the years since he allowed a meager 48.5 percent completion rate and gave up zero touchdowns as a rookie. Opposing quarterbacks connected on 68.1 percent of throws made against him in 2025, a career-worst mark for the 27-year-old. He gave up a concerning 13 touchdowns over the past two seasons after allowing just four in his first two years.
While the Tennessee product is a decent tackler, a playmaker when his gambles pay off (he's recorded four interceptions and three forced fumbles in the NFL) and hasn't had any notable injury issues since entering the league, he's set to cash in on a deal that Spotrac estimates will pay him over $11 million annually.
Ultimately, he will be someone the Saints have to take a wager on, whether they sign him or not. His volatile play certainly pans out and turns games around in many cases, but can also cost the team dearly. With the expected value being mentioned at $11 million AAV, it will be curious to see how many years he gets more than anything. With New Orleans having a bit more cap flexibility than they have in the past, they can spend, but it needs to be done wisely.
With eight picks in the 2026 draft, it may be more probable to draft a cornerback to play the slot exclusively, playing Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley on the boundary, and then signing a depth option or two off the open market. With needs at wide receiver, guard, defensive tackle, and a few other spots depth-wise, it may be more favorable to utilize their money on other positions in free agency.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Why does B/R think Alontae Taylor is a free agent to be avoided?
English (US) ·