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Titans' $60M Cornerback Benched: What's Next?
19 Oct
Summary
- Alontae Taylor, signed to a $60 million contract, was surprisingly benched.
- Taylor's benching was a coaching decision, not due to injury.
- His contract makes him difficult to release or trade until 2028.
The Tennessee Titans made a surprising decision to declare cornerback Alontae Taylor inactive for their recent win against Indianapolis. Taylor, who signed a three-year, $60 million contract, was benched as a coaching decision, not due to any injury. This benching comes despite him playing over 90% of snaps in the previous five weeks.
PFF grades him as the 99th-best cornerback, with low coverage scores, posing a financial challenge given the team's limited cap room in 2027. Releasing or trading Taylor before 2028 would incur significant dead cap charges, making it financially unviable for the franchise.
Several teams, including the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, and Los Angeles Chargers, could potentially be interested in acquiring Taylor due to their own cornerback needs and salary cap space. However, any trade or release would have substantial financial implications for the Titans.
The Titans managed to secure a win without Taylor, raising questions about the significant financial commitment made to the player. The team's front office faces the challenge of making the partnership work, given the contract's ramifications, as they look for Taylor to bounce back.
