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Eagles, Lions, Bills Eye Saints’ Alontae Taylor as Trade Deadline Drama Builds
The Saints Are Slipping, and the Phone Lines Are Heating Up
The New Orleans Saints are 1-6, their playoff hopes fading faster than a blown coverage. And when a team’s season starts circling the drain, the calls start coming in.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Saints “would consider” trading cornerback Alontae Taylor if the right offer hits the table — and that’s all contenders needed to hear. Suddenly, playoff hopefuls like the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles are lurking like sharks in the trade waters.
Why Taylor’s Name Is Buzzing Around the League
Taylor isn’t just another depth piece. He’s been a starter for the Saints since his rookie year, showing flashes of lockdown potential early on. But as the team’s struggles piled up, his performance dipped slightly, and the organization began leaning into its younger defensive core — Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley, and Jonas Sanker.
Now, with Taylor’s contract set to expire in 2026, New Orleans might see more value in flipping him for future draft capital than keeping him through another rebuild cycle.
Perfect Fits for Contenders
Let’s be honest — several playoff teams could use a player like Alontae Taylor right now:
- 🦁 Detroit Lions: The cornerback room has been absolutely decimated by injuries. With Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, and even their backups on the sideline, Detroit desperately needs someone who can step in and stabilize the secondary.
- 🦅 Philadelphia Eagles: Across from rookie Quinyon Mitchell, the Eagles have been shuffling bodies — Adoree’ Jackson, Kelee Ringo, Jakorian Bennett — none of whom have found consistency. Taylor could be the steady CB2 they’ve been missing.
- 🦬 Buffalo Bills: With Tre’Davious White still struggling post-injury and Maxwell Hairston untested, Buffalo’s secondary has cracks that need sealing fast. Taylor would bring immediate reliability to their playoff push.
The Saints’ Dilemma
This isn’t a fire sale — at least, not yet. Fowler made it clear that New Orleans doesn’t want to trade Taylor, but they’d listen if a strong offer came in. It’s a fine line between rebuilding and rebuilding smart.
The team already has young corners they like, and trading Taylor could open reps for the next generation while stocking up on valuable draft picks. Still, letting go of one of your most experienced defenders mid-season is never an easy call.
Final Whistle: One to Watch Before the Deadline
Taylor’s situation has “deadline drama” written all over it. Whether it’s Detroit patching injuries, Philly plugging holes, or Buffalo doubling down on defense, someone’s going to make that call.
And if the offer is sweet enough, the Saints might just pick up the phone.