Fowler named Taylor his sleeper trade-deadline candidate in ESPN’s Week 7 buzz column, writing that “his Week 6 benching has placed him on the radar of teams that might look to bolster the position in the next few weeks.”
A Free-Agent Prize Who Hasn’t Fit
Fowler wrote that Taylor was “widely considered the top corner in free agency” when he signed in March, and he was expected to be a cornerstone of Robert Saleh’s defensive rebuild.
Taylor was a healthy scratch in the Titans’ 26-20 win over Indianapolis in Week 6, their first victory of the season, and a team source told ESPN it was a coach’s decision and not injury-related.
Taylor is 27 and moved to outside cornerback full time after playing the slot in New Orleans, and Pro Football Focus graded him 101st among 104 qualifying cornerbacks entering Week 6, with team highs of 21 receptions and 215 receiving yards allowed.
The Titans are fielding trade interest on cornerback Alontae Taylor, who is a healthy inactive today against the Colts. Taylor signed a three-year deal with Tennessee in free agency, but it appears a trade ahead of the deadline is very likely now. https://t.co/fQakjOQ93x
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) October 18, 2026
Saleh said Monday that “as it pertains to Alontae, we’ll discuss it as a staff and make a decision that’s best for the team moving forward.”
Taylor addressed the benching Wednesday for the first time, calling it a “tough situation” and saying Saleh “broke some stuff down to me, and (you) gotta take it to the chin.”
He also said the scheme is “different than anything I’ve played,” and Joshua Williams started in his place against the Colts.
The Contract Is The Hurdle
Fowler wrote that “money is a hurdle,” since Taylor’s salaries of $9.49 million in 2026 and $20.5 million in 2027 are both guaranteed.
$42 million of the $58 million was guaranteed at signing, and the Titans would likely have to eat some of the $20.5 million guaranteed next season to make a trade work.
From what I’ve gathered, zero teams are calling the Titans about Alontae Taylor. Zero. Every team in the NFL believes he is paid as an elite boundary shutdown guy when he is really a slot corner, making him at least $7M to $8M overpaid per season. Nobody is trading for that awful contract, and if they did compensation would likely be a 6th or 7th round pick. #TitanUp
— Tommy Callahan (@yalltitanup) October 19, 2026
Fowler noted Tennessee has the option to “smooth things out with Taylor and solidify a role for him,” while adding that “a benching typically signals that a player is expendable.”
The Titans are 1-5, and they’re likely sellers at the deadline, though they don’t have much that will draw interest.
Tennessee hosts Cleveland on Sunday, and the trade deadline is November 10.
