We have to wait only one more day until the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals square off in the Superdome to start the 2025 regular season. Fourth year defensive back Alontae Taylor has worn No. 1 with the Saints for the last three years. Taylor is one of the key members of a New Orleans defense expecting vast improvement over last year’s results. He’s also our Saints Player of the Day, bearing a closer look at his background.

Name (age): Alontae Taylor (26)

Hometown: Manchester, Tenn.

Height, weight: 6-feet, 199 pounds

College: Tennessee Volunteers

Relative Athletic Score: 9.06

Drafted: Round 2, 49th overall in 2022 (Saints)

2025 salary cap hit: $4,260,945

Also a star quarterback at Coffee County Center High School in Tennessee, Taylor had over 8,000 yards of total offense and 75 touchdowns before committing to the University of Tennessee as a wide receiver. He’d switch to the defensive side as a freshman in 2018 and be a playmaker for the Volunteers secondary during his four-year tenure. Taylor compiled 162 total tackles, including 5 for loss and a half sack. He also broke up 15 passes, recording 3 interceptions and recovering 3 fumbles while scoring 2 defensive touchdowns.

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In a bit of a surprise, the New Orleans Saints selected Taylor midway through Round 2 of the 2022 NFL draft. Injuries to cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo pressed Taylor into heavy action early as a rookie. He responded with 11 passes broken up and allowing just 48.5% completion rate when targeted in man coverage. Taylor had an even better statistical campaign in 2023, intercepting 2 passes and breaking up 14 others while fortifying a role as the team’s top slot corner, adding a sack and 6 tackles for loss.

Alontae Taylor started the 2024 season off as one of the best defensive playmakers in the NFL. Moving all around the formation, Taylor had 3.5 sacks, 5 pressures, and 20 tackles in the first three contests of the year. A season-ending injury to Adebo and more injuries to Lattimore would force Taylor into a more traditional cornerback role. On the year, he’d end up with 4 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles. He allowed a career-worst 62.1% completion percentage when targeted but broke up a team-high 16 passes and led the secondary with 89 total tackles and 61 solo stops.

New Orleans is trying to rebound from a disappointing defensive performance under new coordinator Brandon Staley. Alontae Taylor is a key figure in that rebuild. Taylor has been most effective from the slot, but has the versatility to play outside corner, deep safety, or close to the line of scrimmage. Expect Staley to move Taylor around to take advantage of his versatility and playmaking ability.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Alontae Taylor is the Saints Player of Day 1