Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor tightly held the picture frame.

First holding the frame in his right hand, Taylor slowly moved the frame closer to his face as New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan began to announce the team’s No. 49 pick.

When Taylor’s name was read aloud and his NFL dreams realized, he kissed the photo. A photo of his grandmother who died in 2009.

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.town...ize=1168%2C769

“She was the first person I made sure I gave a kiss to before hugging my mom,” Taylor said.

There were hugs all around as Taylor became a Saint.

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Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Saints check a lot of their favorite boxes with Tennessee DB Alontae Taylor

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.town...ze=1476%2C1079

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

I wonder if DA sees him at Corner or Safety, either way I can't say I'm unhappy.

I think DA has done very well so far, quality players with each pick.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Maybe if Taylor impresses we can trade Roby for depth at another position. Or know that hands down we have one of the strongest CB1-5 rotations in the league!

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

The idea of rotating fresh DB's in coverage is intriguing. If they don't convert him to a FS, then this is a wait and see pick, to be sure.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

He’s still pretty raw as a corner. Converted to DB in college, bit old compared to the other corners, but he’s very athletic and has a good attitude. I don’t know how impactful he’s going to be right away and it would be a good idea to have Roby here.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Also worth noting Alontae was a Team Captain at Tennessee. Saints value talent but also leadership.

Welcome to New Orleans Alontea Taylor and good luck!

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Not just that but also he was Vice Chair of SEC Football Leadership Council.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Situation kind of reminds me of Malcom Jenkins. Versatile and can play corner or safety but sees himself as a corner. Let’s hope we don’t stick him in a position that doesn’t suit him just because we have a position of need. Hopefully we get the best out of him here without having to send him to another team just to watch him thrive. From what I’ve read I’m not sure he was bpa at the time but time will tell.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

He probably wasn’t BPA but someone we wanted IMO. He and his agent both thought he going going to go off the board in the third. We didn’t have a third, saw a guy they really liked and instead of getting cute with it, made the move to get who they wanted which is fine. We’re in position where we don’t have to force him into being an immediate contributor. If he can make an impact, great. If not we can afford to develop him at his own pace. There’s depth here.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

This nails it, papz.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

What happened to ALWAYS DRAFT BPA? 😕 Echoed very loudly through the forum, were any if these picks BPA actually 🤔

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

I think they went after and got the 3 best players for THE SAINTS FOOTBALL TEAM‘S positions of need … They were aggressive knew who they wanted and made it happen.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

In their minds, yes. It's what THEY see as best player available that matters. Not what OTHERS think is the best player available. Fans are too fixated on incomplete information.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Bull ****. BPA is BPA. Different teams may view different players as BPA but it’s going to be the same handful of players. When you have a top 50 pick and you take a player outside the top 100 it’s not BPA, it’s a reach.
Not saying it’s a bad pick but certainly not BPA.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

You're right ... Kamara was a reach !!!

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Still shell shocked with the pick. Not discounting that this young man can outperform expectations and become a contributor this year, but his fit with the roster is puzzling for someone you draft in the second round. We're going to run 3 safeties out there and when we're not, we're going to see CJ drop to nickel.

They must have really liked this young man and I hope it all works out in the long run.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

I just heard an interview with Mickey Loomis on NFL Radio. When asked about the Alontae Taylor pick in the 2nd round he said that he was a player that they had identified and wanted and that he was at the very top of their board when the pick came up. He said his size and speed were factors, as well as his leadership qualities. He said he can be an immediate contributor on special teams while he perfects his skills at CB. He said he believes that you build into strengths and that the secondary is a strength and Taylor adds to that strength. He also mentioned that insight from new receivers coach, Kodi Burns, who was with Taylor at Tennessee, was a factor, as well.

He also addressed moving up to take Olave. He said Olave was a player that they had also identified and wanted and were concerned that he would not fall to their current slots. He said they felt they had to move up to make sure they got him. It's likely the 11th pick was the only slot they were able to move into.

He also brought up the fact that it was pointed out to him that he has traded up about 25 times and has never traded down in the draft. He said that matches the team philosophy of quality over quantity. He questioned moving back to take a lessor player when you can take a player you desire more with the higher pick.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Alontea's game reminds me a little of Chauncey G J.

Elite skillset, fast (4.35) closing skills & versatile.

I think he'll see the field quite a bit as a rookie.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

So who's the odd man out... Robey?

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Naw. I'd say a guy like KeiVarae Russell or Jordan Miller.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Something else Loomis mentioned about Taylor was the fact that he was Vice Chair of the SEC Football Leadership Council for two terms in pointing out the leadership abilities they noted.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Bump …

KeiVarea Russell was waived today.

Jalen Dalton as well - per Nick U.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Alontae Taylor is going to be the steal of the 2nd round. He has all the tools. Giving me Richard Sherman vibes, but more athletic. I can't find the type of film I want on him though.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

We got the guys that we wanted. We're in a good place.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Alonte Taylor- 6’ 01”, 199lbs, 4.36 40,RAS-9.06
Paulson Adebo- 6’ 01”, 199lbs, 4.42 40,RAS-9.55
Marshon Lattimore- 6’ 00”, 195lbs, 4.36 40,RAS-10

This may not mean much to some but I found this interesting. Pretty close numbers. If this guy is coachable, which I bet he is, there’s no reason why he won’t see the field early and often. I don’t really know why he was graded by most as a 3/4 rounder.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

Because they don't know as much as those that do it for their livelihood? Because they don't have access to all the resources?

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

For the life of me I don't understand why you can't read the room. You really are NPD.

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

What IS your problem, ice? I was agreeing with Mr.Riaton. I simply listed a couple of reasons that may be possibilities. Who knows why these "draft experts" evaluate as they do. Perhaps YOU need to read the room. Geez! un-frickin-real. :rolleyes:

Re: Saints draft Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick
 

I can't wait to see her article. Taylor is sounding like a winner.