Head coach Robert Saleh said something in an interview with the voice of the Tennessee Titans, Taylor Zarzour, that truly made me raise my eyebrows.

“Have we heard him say that before?” I asked out loud to no one in my kitchen.

A large topic of discussion, and there are many about this new look Titans team, has been the plan for the nickel cornerback in Saleh’s new defense. Most, if not actually all, of the discussion from the coaching staff has been about second year Titans corner Marcus Harris being ‘the guy’ they are very excited about in this new role.

Harris, a sixth round pick in the 2025 draft class had a very solid rookie campaign where his opportunities rose the later the season went along. But, can this team really have that much trust in a second year sixth round pick? If he doesn’t pan out or doesn’t stay healthy… who else do they even have? Nickel corner has been a popular position to keep any eye on when it comes to the Titans adding more outside talent as training camp approaches.

Now, we can get to what Saleh told Zarzour after the off-season program closed with the team’s mandatory minicamp. Zarzour asked about free-agent signee, and Coffee County High School phenom, Alontae Taylor. The former Tennessee Volunteer signed a three year contract for over $58 million in March. During his first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, Taylor made his hay as a nickel corner, but the plan for Taylor with the Titans was to play him as an outside corner. That move makes sense considering the price point he was signed at.

“What have you learned about Alontae Taylor, so far?” Zarzour teed up Saleh.

“Elite competitor, ” Saleh began. “He’s making a shift from a from a part-time corner, full-time nickel to a to a full-time corner, part-time nickel, and it is different out there.”

*Record scratch*

Part-time nickel, you say?

I had to double check with our Titans reporter, Easton Freeze, to make sure this wasn’t the first time Saleh has mentioned Taylor as part of the plan at nickel.

Alontae Taylor’s versatility in the past is now part of the plan with the Titans?

Freeze: Since the moment Taylor was locked down by the Titans in free agency, the message from all parties has been consistent: we aren’t paying Taylor $19.3M a year to be a nickel. He’s an outside cornerback in Tennessee.

He’s bounced around so far in his career. As a rookie in New Orleans, he played nearly every snap outside. Then he flipped his second year to the slot 7 snaps out of 8. 2024 flipped again, playing almost twice as much outside as inside. And last year, you guessed it, another flip. 2-to-1 snaps in the slot.

In summary 2026 will be his fifth consecutive year flipping his primary focus. But what’s interesting about the comment from Saleh is that it’s the first time we’ve gotten public acknowledgment that he’ll be doing any nickel work at all.

So the question is: will it be a split like in 2022 (96% outside), or a split more like 2024 (63% outside)?

Training Camp will be our first chance to find out.

Taylor joining Harris at nickel changes depth dynamic for Tennessee

Before this reveal from Saleh that Taylor is part of the nickel plan, I genuinely wasn’t sure what was going to happen there. Jalen McMurray, another former Vol, is a slot-nickel corner as an undrafted rookie in camp. There really isn’t another player between Harris or McMurray from the corner room.

Veteran safety addition, Tony Adams, can and will be used as a ‘big slot’ from time to time, however that doesn’t answer either of my questions above about what happens if Harris struggles or (knocks on wood) isn’t available.

I can start to see the puzzle pieces used in different ways with Taylor in the mix. He fits as an outside starting corner with fellow free-agent Cor’Dale Flott. Could Taylor be Harris’s back up in the slot? I can see that being the move, which thin brings either (another free-agent signing) Joshua Williams or Micah Robinson in as the third outside corner.

Many NFL analyst view Taylor’s free agent contract as an overpay (just like any deal made during those first few days of transactions). Knowing Taylor is going to, can be used in both ways makes him more valuable.

It does provide extra pressure on Taylor to perform and stay available. Saleh didn’t stop there when it came to his first impression on the Manchester, TN native.

“He’s been very deliberate in his approach,” Saleh said. “I’m not just talking about full speed reps and (individual drills), I’m talking about even walk through. He’s very deliberate and being mindful of the techniques he’s trying to use, his footwork, his hand placement, his eyes, and he’s attacked the heck out of it.”

“One thing I know about Alontae is that he’s not going to be shy from contact. I’m not worried about what happens when he puts pads on. I think it’s going to get even better. I think it’ll be more physical. I think it’s going to get more violent with him, and so (I’m) looking forward to seeing him in training camp.”

Will Harris and Taylor make the Titans feel good enough about not needing to find additional nickel help? I see the vision. I would make sure to figure out what I have in Harris, who’s young and under three more years of cheap contract control, before looking outside the building.