As the Detroit Lions try to do anything and everything to add players with a pulse in the secondary, the Tennessee Titans may have thrown Brad Holmes a bone by signaling that they are all but done with Alontae Taylor.
Taylor, who joined the Titans on a three-year, $58 million contract in the offseason, was named a healthy scratch for the team's first 2026 victory against the Indianapolis Colts. Robert Saleh has seemingly given up on Taylor one-third of the way into the 2026 season, and that could get teams wondering if a rebuilding Titans squad will bit the bullet and move off him.
If the answer to that question is indeed in the affirmative, the Lions may be able to check in with Tennessee and see if a late pick would free them of the Taylor contract albatross. After choosing to let him go to Tennessee in free agency despite a serious need in the secondary, the Lions could link up with him months later without breaking the bank to recruit him.
Lions could consider Alontae Taylor trade after Titans bench starting CB
Taylor, who ranked a putrid 101st out of 104 qualified cornerbacks in the eyes of Pro Football Focus this season, made the mistake of wanting to play as an outside cornerback rather than a nickel defender. He was a playmaker at that spot with the New Orleans Saints, playing on the outside in a Robert Saleh scheme is not suited to his skills.
The Titans may not be willing to trade him due to the dead cap that would be accrued if they move off someone who is clearly not going to be a part of the furniture long-term. If they can stomach that pill, which they may after drastically pivoting this early in his tenure, the Lions might be able to snag him at a discount without being as financially hampered as the Titans.
READ MORE: Lions have already (and fairly decisively) won the David Montgomery trade
Detroit may not like the idea of taking on a contract that seemed like an overpay from the moment the ink dried on this deal, but Taylor was a versatile dynamo in New Orleans who would instantly be one of the better cornerbacks on the roster, and he may not cost an arm and a leg.
Alontae Taylor would start right away on the Detroit Lions
The Lions are trying everything, including names like Roger McCreary, Christian Izien, and rookie Keith Abney II to try and fix their defensive woes, and nothing seems to be working. In an NFC North that would put every team in the playoffs if the season ended right now, the Lions would be doing everyone a disservice if they came out of the trade deadline without making some sort of impactful addition.
The truth with Taylor likely lies somewhere between his highs in 2024 with New Orleans and what he's shown with the Titans this season. Holmes may not have the most ammunition to bring in needle-moving players, but buying low on Taylor could be the kind of under-the-radar move Holmes needs to get back to cashing in.
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