With Jaylon Johnson out indefinitely after groin and core-muscle issues landed him on injured reserve, cornerback has become a more pressing need for the Chicago Bears.
Tyrique Stevenson has been playing well in Johnson’s absence, and Kyler Gordon has returned to action after missing the first four games, but beyond that, the play at CB has been questionable at best. Neither Nahshon Wright nor Nick McCloud has made much of an impact — at least not a positive one.
Wright in particular is tied for second in the NFL with six penalties, costing the Bears 50 yards in the process. Adding another cornerback to the mix to play alongside Stevenson on the outside feels like something the Bears will need to do if that keeps up.
Fortunately, they may have an option defensive coordinator Dennis Allen knows well. PFF’s Bradley Locker named the Bears a top trade fit for New Orleans Saints DB Alontae Taylor. Would he be a good fit? Let’s discuss.
Should the Chicago Bears Trade for New Orleans Saints CB Alontae Taylor?
GettySaints CB Alontae Taylor has been mentioned as a trade fit for the Chicago Bears. Should they be interested?
Taylor, 26, is a former second-round pick (No. 49 in 2022) who’s played his entire NFL career with the Saints after starring at the University of Tennessee. In his first three seasons, he logged 41 pass breakups, two interceptions and an unusually robust sack total for a corner (he finished with 4.0 sacks just last season).
Through Week 6 this season, Taylor has 18 solo tackles (and two tackles for loss), three passes defensed and a sack, working primarily as a starting corner.
“Although little has been good about the Saints’ 2025 season, Taylor’s play has pointed upward. This year, he’s produced a career-best 69.5 PFF coverage grade,” Locker wrote on October 13.
“What also aids his value is inside-outside versatility, having played 1,239 or more snaps on the outside and in the slot. The Saints have demonstrated a willingness to move on from serviceable-to-good corners in recent years, including Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo. If New Orleans doesn’t intend to pay Taylor this offseason, the 26-year-old could be sought after. Perhaps Dennis Allen would try to reunite with his former draft pick.”
What Might a Trade Like This Cost the Bears?
Taylor is in the final year of his four-year, $7.2 million rookie deal. He has a very modest cap hit around $4.26 million this season, which the Bears could afford. With the Saints sitting at 1-5 under first-year coach Kellen Moore, they’re a logical seller heading into the November 4 trade deadline.
Given his expiring contract, a conditional Day 3 pick feels like realistic compensation. We think a 2026 fifth-rounder that would escalate to a fourth if Taylor plays 60% of the team’s snaps or meets a certain PBU mark seems right. The Buffalo Bills landed Rasul Douglas at the 2023 deadline for a 2024 third in a pick swap (sending back a fifth), and considering Taylor is younger and cheaper. Thus, a future fifth with conditions might get a deal done.
The Dennis Allen connection is also relevant. Taylor developed in Allen’s defense, and Allen coached Taylor for three seasons in New Orleans. The current Bears DC would know exactly which coverages to deploy him in, what his strengths and weaknesses are, etc. That familiarity is no small thing in the NFL.
The primary question, then, is whether New Orleans would be willing to part with him. Considering the Bears’ need for corner help coupled with the Saints’ likely soon-to-be-rebuilding phase, a trade for Taylor is something the Bears should at least consider.
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