The Tennessee Titans committed $103 million to cornerbacks Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott in free agency, with $74 million fully guaranteed. Five games in, quarterbacks have completed 31 of 38 passes against them.
That's 82%. But they aren't in the same situation.
Alontae Taylor's contract was built on one good season
Taylor signed a three-year, $58 million deal with $42 million guaranteed. Over the Cap ranks it 13th among all cornerbacks in average salary. The Titans paid him $22 million this year alone, more than twice what he earned in four seasons with the New Orleans Saints.
That money was based on his 2025 season, when he posted a 66.8 PFF coverage grade. It was the only season of his career above 60. His other three seasons in New Orleans graded 56.3, 51.8 and 35.4. In 2024, he allowed 998 yards in coverage.
This season, his 29.8 coverage grade is the lowest on the Titans' defense. He's allowed 21 catches on 24 targets for 215 yards and a touchdown, and quarterbacks have a 117.9 passer rating against him.
Cor'Dale Flott's track record says his struggles may not last
Flott signed a three-year, $45 million deal with $32 million guaranteed. His cap hit with the New York Giants last season was $3.65 million.
Unlike Taylor, Flott has a solid history. He never graded below 59.4 in four seasons with the Giants, including a 68.1 last year. Last season, he allowed just 35 catches on 66 targets.
His 48.3 coverage grade this season comes on just 14 targets over four games, including one cut short by a collision. That isn't what the Titans paid for, but it's also a small sample.
Titans are locked in with Taylor + Flott through 2027
Releasing either player before 2028 would cost the Titans more than keeping him. In 2027, Taylor and Flott carry a combined $43.9 million in cap hits.
Quarterbacks are completing 82% of their passes against Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott. Taylor’s 29.8 coverage grade is the worst on the Titans’ defense.
— Titans-Desk (@mbottoms31) October 12, 2026
Next year, the pair will cost $43.9 million against the cap. The Titans can’t even save money by cutting them. Looking… pic.twitter.com/WE6y2cih78
The first real exit comes in 2028. Releasing Taylor that year would save $14.98 million, and releasing Flott would save $11.98 million. By then, hopefully the Titans will have drafted some young cornerbacks.
Both deals belong to general manager Mike Borgonzi, who took over in January 2025. The Titans went 3-14 in his first season and are 0-5 in his second. His biggest free-agent bets need to start paying off.
Until then, the Titans are stuck paying both, whether they produce like starters or not.
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