The 2023 NFL offseason is in full swing, and with that, training camps edge ever closer to starting. We have seen a new wave of players enter the team both via the draft and free agency, but there is also a large group of returning players from last season as well. This has led to some debates to be had regarding which players will have the largest impact on the roster for the 2023 season.
Each day we will be counting down the 25 most important Saints for the 2023 season. This will be split up into the following categories:
- Recap of their 2022 season
- Projecting their 2023 success
- What is the biggest question mark for them in 2023?
The 11th-ranked player by the Saints Wire staff is cornerback Alontae Taylor:
Background
Taylor played four seasons for the Tennessee Volunteers, making a solid impact the entire time. He started 31 games during his career. He also made a name for himself off the field as a fantastic leader for the team in the locker room and representative for the SEC.
He had 162 tackles with five tackles for a loss, four interceptions and 15 passes defended while in college. He also forced a fumble.
2022 Recap
Taylor got thrust into more playing time than the team probably intended for during his rookie season, but he answered with a solid performance. His first season was more about flashes than consistency. He had his rookie mistakes but showed a lot of things that would get any fan excited and would be fixed with more playing time and understanding of the NFL game.
He wasn’t able to officially log an interception, but got very close multiple times. He finished with 46 tackles, one for a loss and 11 passes defended.
2023 Outlook
Taylor is switching to the No. 1 jersey for the 2023 season. He will continue fighting for playing time, not a lock for a starting spot this season on the boundary. The Saints will want to see some big strides in his sophomore season.
One big thing to watch is whether or not he’ll every play in the slot. He tracked very well as a nickel corner out of college, as he’s a fantastic tackler. It still looks to be Bradley Roby’s job for now and Taylor has insisted that he’s a boundary corner, but it is still something to always watch with his skill set.
Biggest question: Alontae Taylor or Paulson Adebo?
The Saints have two young cornerbacks in Taylor and Adebo. Taylor is entering his sophomore season and Adebo is entering his third year in the league.
Adebo didn’t make the jump anyone wanted last season, which could put his playing time into question. Taylor is the more promising player entering the season, just given that he was younger. Neither player earned themselves a sure fire starting job across from Marshon Lattimore last season.
Through training camp (remember, Taylor switched from the No. 27 jersey to No. 1) this battle will be one of the most interesting to watch, but this battle could extend into the regular season as well.
