Alontae Taylor Bio
Alontae Devaun Taylor is an American professional football cornerback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Born on December 3, 1998, in Winchester, Tennessee, he has emerged as one of the promising young defensive backs in the league since being drafted in 2022. Standing 183 centimeters tall and weighing approximately 90 kilograms, Taylor combines physical size with the athleticism needed to cover top receivers and contribute in run support.
After playing college football at the University of Tennessee, Taylor was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He quickly developed from a rookie role player into a starter and, by the 2024 season, had become the de facto top cornerback for the Saints following key roster changes. His progression from a high school quarterback to a versatile NFL defensive back reflects both his athletic background and the coaching he has received at every level of the sport.
Early Life and Background
Alontae Devaun Taylor was born on December 3, 1998, in Winchester, Tennessee. He grew up in the small community of Manchester, Tennessee, where he attended Coffee County Central High School. At Coffee County Central, Taylor was a standout multi-sport athlete who stood out for his play at the quarterback position.
During his high school career, Taylor produced 8,225 yards of total offense and accounted for 75 touchdowns, demonstrating the arm talent, mobility, and competitiveness that would later help him transition to the defensive side of the ball. His performances earned him an invitation to the 2018 Under Armour All-American Game, one of the premier high school showcases in the country. Following his senior season, Taylor committed to the University of Tennessee to continue his football career at the collegiate level.
Path to American Football
Taylor signed with the Tennessee Volunteers and arrived on campus in 2018. Although he was initially recruited as a wide receiver, the Tennessee coaching staff moved him to cornerback before his freshman year, a position change that proved pivotal for his long-term development. The transition allowed him to use his athletic background while developing coverage and tackling skills required on the defensive side.
Taylor played at Tennessee under head coaches Jeremy Pruitt and Josh Heupel from 2018 to 2021. He became a starter as a freshman and, over the course of his college career, started 31 of 45 games played. By the time he declared for the draft, he had recorded 162 tackles, four interceptions, one pick-six, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. Taylor chose to skip the 2021 Music City Bowl to begin preparation for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Alontae Taylor Career
Early Career (2022)
The New Orleans Saints selected Alontae Devaun Taylor in the second round (49th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, making him the eighth cornerback taken in that class. On July 19, 2022, the Saints signed him to a four-year, $7.20 million rookie contract that included $3.45 million in guaranteed money and an initial signing bonus of $2.41 million. He entered training camp as a backup and was initially listed as the fourth cornerback on the depth chart behind Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, and Bradley Roby.
Taylor made his regular-season debut on September 11, 2022, against the Atlanta Falcons, though he saw limited action on special teams in New Orleans’ 27-26 win. A knee injury during practice sent him to injured reserve in late September, but the Saints activated him on October 20, 2022. With Lattimore and Adebo both sidelined, Taylor was immediately promoted to a starting role and earned his first career start against the Arizona Cardinals on October 20, 2022. He appeared in 13 games as a rookie, starting the final nine consecutive contests, and finished the season with 46 combined tackles (39 solo) and 11 passes defended.
New Orleans Saints Breakthrough (2023)
In 2023, Taylor was named the starting nickelback to begin the season under new defensive coordinator Joe Woods. He started 13 of 17 games that year and showed continued growth in coverage and run support. By the end of the regular season, he had established himself as a reliable every-down defender for the Saints.
Taylor’s 2023 campaign featured several milestones. In Week 3, he set a career high with five pass deflections and recorded his first career sack on Jordan Love during a loss at the Green Bay Packers. On December 31, 2023, he recorded his first career interception on a pass by Baker Mayfield in a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He followed that with another interception the following week against Desmond Ridder in a 48-17 rout of the Atlanta Falcons. He closed the year with 75 combined tackles (56 solo), two interceptions, 14 passes defended, one sack, and one forced fumble.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024–Present)
Heading into the 2024 season, Taylor was projected as a backup before being named the third cornerback on the depth chart. On September 8, 2024, he set a new career high with three sacks on Bryce Young in a 47-10 win over the Carolina Panthers, a performance that set a Saints franchise record for most sacks in a single game by a defensive back and tied the NFL record. The following week, he recorded a season-high nine combined tackles in a 44-19 win at the Dallas Cowboys.
Midseason roster changes further elevated his role. After Paulson Adebo was placed on injured reserve in October 2024 and head coach Dennis Allen was fired on November 4, 2024, the Saints traded Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders. Taylor was elevated to the de facto No. 1 starting cornerback and started the next games alongside Shemar Jean-Charles while Kool-Aid McKinstry recovered from a hamstring injury. He finished the 2024 season with four sacks, 89 tackles, 16 passes defended, and two forced fumbles.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although cornerbacks are not drivers in the racing sense, Taylor’s professional profile reflects versatility, football intelligence, and physical toughness. He is comfortable playing on the outside and in the slot, and his background as a high school quarterback gives him strong instincts for reading opposing receivers. His blend of size, tackling ability, and ball skills has made him effective against both the run and the pass, and he has developed into a reliable contributor for the Saints defense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most notable events of Alontae Devaun Taylor’s career is his record-setting three-sack performance against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 of the 2024 season, which set a New Orleans Saints franchise record for sacks in a single game by a defensive back and tied the NFL record. He has also recorded back-to-back interceptions to close out the 2023 regular season and has been a consistent presence in New Orleans’ secondary throughout his first three professional seasons.
Alontae Taylor Career Wins
As a defensive player, Alontae Devaun Taylor’s professional impact is measured through individual statistics, big plays, and team victories rather than head-to-head race wins. Over his first three NFL seasons, he has helped the New Orleans Saints to multiple regular-season victories while producing increasingly productive individual numbers, including tackles, interceptions, passes defended, and sacks.
New Orleans Saints Highlights
Across his tenure with the Saints, Taylor has developed into one of the team’s most reliable defensive backs. His rookie year featured 46 combined tackles and 11 passes defended across 13 games. In 2023, he added 75 combined tackles, 14 passes defended, two interceptions, one sack, and one forced fumble while starting 13 games. His 2024 season marked his most complete year statistically, with four sacks, 89 tackles, 16 passes defended, and two forced fumbles.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his regular-season production, Taylor has delivered several signature performances, including his three-sack game against the Carolina Panthers in 2024 and back-to-back interception games to close the 2023 regular season. He has appeared in all 17 regular-season games in both 2023 and 2024, reflecting his durability and importance to the Saints defense.
Alontae Taylor Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Alontae Devaun Taylor’s immediate family, including his parents and any siblings, is limited. What is known is that he grew up in the Manchester, Tennessee, area, attended Coffee County Central High School, and was a multi-sport athlete whose football talent earned him recognition at the state and national levels.
Personal Life
Taylor’s personal life remains largely private, and there are no widely confirmed public details regarding a spouse, partner, or children. He continues to reside in the United States and is represented by the New Orleans Saints, with his current rookie contract running through the 2026 NFL season.
2025 Season Performance
Looking ahead to the 2025 NFL season, Alontae Devaun Taylor is expected to play a leading role in the New Orleans Saints secondary after finishing 2024 as the team’s de facto No. 1 starting cornerback. With Marshon Lattimore traded to the Washington Commanders and Paulson Adebo having spent time on injured reserve, Taylor is positioned to anchor the cornerback group alongside younger players such as Kool-Aid McKinstry and Shemar Jean-Charles.
His 2024 production, including four sacks, 89 tackles, 16 passes defended, and two forced fumbles, suggests that he will be a focal point of the Saints’ defensive scheme in 2025. The Saints are also adjusting to new leadership following the midseason dismissal of head coach Dennis Allen, and Taylor’s continued development will be a key storyline for the franchise. With his contract running through 2026, the 2025 season will be an important year for him to solidify his status as a long-term building block in New Orleans.