Alontae Taylor, a former Coffee County and University of Tennessee star, is leaving the New Orleans Satins as a free agent to sign with the Titans. ANGIE FLATT
The Tennessee Titans made a big splash in free agency, adding former New York Jets and Denver Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, league sources confirmed.
The moves didn’t stop there, however, as general manager Mike Borgonzi then added two cornerbacks to help replenish an area starved for bodies, getting Alontae Taylor, a former University of Tennessee standout, from the New Orleans Saints and tapping their third ex-New York Giant of the day in cornerback Cor’Dale Flott.
The Franklin deal is a three-year contract worth $63 million and reunites Franklin-Myers with Titans head coach Robert Saleh, for whom he played in New York.
With the Broncos the past two seasons, Franklin-Myers has put up 14.5 sacks, including 7.5 last year.
His signing continues the makeover of the defensive line as the Titans have also acquired another ex-Jet in Jermaine Johnson last month in a deal for T’Vondre Sweat, as Tennessee adds help for its All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons as the Titans switch back to a 4-3 front under Saleh.
Taylor, who is from Coffee County High School in Tennessee before going to the Tennessee Vols, has spent the past four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He had two interceptions last season for the Saints.
Flott is a former third-round pick of the Giants out of LSU and has had one interception in each of the past three seasons.
Taylor, listed at 6-0, and Flott, who measures 6-2, give the Titans the bigger cornerbacks they have been seeking in recent years.
A third cornerback was also added Monday evening when the Titans agreed to terms with former Chiefs backup cornerback Josh Williams.
The Titans still have holes on the roster, but the free agency focus will likely shift to more lower-level deals to continue to add to the team’s depth.