The New Orleans Saints are eliminated from playoff contention, but there's still plenty of hope for the team looking into the future.
They've acquired some draft picks, have hit on their rookie quarterback, Tyler Shough, and with a fully healthy offense and defense, could contend for the NFC South next season.
For cornerback Alontae Taylor, his Saints future is a little more uncertain. He could return in free agency, but regardless of whether he does or not, the contract projection he received from The Ringer's Austin Gayle is some good news for Taylor.
Saints' Alontae Taylor gets $13 million FA contract projection
"If he signs a contract somewhere in the $10 million to $13 million range, similar to other slot types who've agreed to new deals in recent years (like Marcus Jones, Taron Johnson, Jourdan Lewis, and Kenny Moore)," Gayle writes, "Taylor could be one of the high-value gems of this free agent class."
Adding a slot cornerback like Taylor, who also has experience playing outside cornerback, would be a no-brainer for a corner-needy team this offseason.
While he's not going to land the mega-deals that the top cornerbacks in the NFL get, he's still projected to land in the $10 million to $13 million per year range.
More: Tyler Shough has proven Saints didn't waste their 2025 2nd-round pick
The 27-year-old inside-outside cornerback should draw plenty of attention this offseason, and whether the Saints bring him back or not, Taylor's contract won't be a cheap one.
A multi-year deal worth at least $10 million per season looks to be in the cards for Taylor. He's in line for a solid free agency, and Gayle's projection highlights as such.
He has started 52 games over the last four seasons, recording four interceptions, 52 passes defended, three forced fumbles, seven sacks, and 289 total tackles.
Taylor is likely going to be a hot commodity this offseason, with a cornerback with his versatility and ability a popular free agent target for teams looking to improve their defense this offseason.
More Saints News:
- Chris Olave's contract extension update is great news for Saints fans
- Tyler Shough takes goofy Saints rookie QB history from Archie Manning, Spencer Rattler
- Saints' Taysom Hill makes his kind of football history never done in the NFL
- Saints' Tyler Shough looking more like a franchise QB vs Jets
- Chase Young scores a rare touchdown on strip sack against Titans
- Saints' Taysom Hill makes Super Bowl era NFL history with trio of 1,000-yard feats