{"id":803058,"date":"2026-03-09T21:21:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T21:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/803058\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T21:21:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T21:21:26","slug":"former-vol-reportedly-signing-with-tennessee-titans-returning-to-the-volunteer-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/803058\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Vol Reportedly Signing With Tennessee Titans, Returning to the Volunteer State"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\"Alontae<\/a>Tennessee DB Alontae Taylor. Photo via Andrew Ferguson\/ Tennessee Athletics<\/p>\n

Former Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor looks to be heading back to the Volunteer State after spending his first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. According to a report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz<\/a> on Monday afternoon, Taylor has reached a 3-year, $60 million agreement to join the Tennessee Titans. Taylor will have $42 million guaranteed.<\/p>\n

Schultz\u2019s report states that Taylor was \u201cthe top target for Tennessee to join Robert Salah\u2019s defense.\u201d Salah was hired as the Titans\u2019 new head coach during the offseason.<\/p>\n

Taylor originally joined the University of Tennessee\u2019s football program as a four-star recruit out of Manchester, TN, in the 2018 recruiting class. He spent four seasons with the Vols, three of which were coached by Jeremy Pruitt with the final year on Josh Heupel\u2019s inaugural roster. During his time in Knoxville, Taylor appeared in 45 games with 31 starts, racking up 162 total tackles, five tackles for loss, four interceptions, 19 pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and half a sack. He also recorded two touchdowns during his four years, with a fumble recovery in the endzone in 2018 and a pick-six against Kentucky in 2021.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f https:\/\/t.co\/B8fLWnLj0F<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) March 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

More From RTI:\u00a0When Tennessee Football is Starting Spring Practice Ahead of 2026 Season<\/a><\/p>\n

Taylor turned a productive collegiate career with Tennessee into a second-round selection with the New Orleans Saints in the 2022 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

The six-foot cornerback played in 64 career games with the Saints during his first four years in the league. He recorded 293 total tackles, four interceptions, seven sacks, and three forced fumbles. Taylor was a key piece of New Orleans\u2019 secondary with 53 starts in his 64 games for the organization.<\/p>\n

Taylor was widely-viewed as the top free agent cornerback and a Top 10 overall free agent in this year\u2019s class. Winning the sweepstakes for Taylor\u2019s services and being able to bring him back to his home state of Tennessee is a big win for head coach Robert Salah as he looks for pieces to improve the Titans\u2019 defense in year one. Taylor will certainly be a key part of that turnaround.<\/p>\n

In other VFL news at the start of free agency, former Tennessee offensive lineman Cade Mays has signed a deal with the Detroit Lions, according to the NFL.<\/p>\n

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