Bengals host Tennessee CB Alontae Taylor before 2022 NFL draft

Add another defensive back to the Cincinnati Bengals‘ hosting list.

The Bengals had Tennessee DB Alontae Taylor in for a pre-draft visit on Wednesday. Taylor played 45 games for the Volunteers with 31 starts. He recorded 60 tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions in 2021.

Those numbers ranked him fifth on the team in tackles, third in pass breakups and tied for second in interceptions.

Taylor (6’1″, 195) is the No. 10 safety from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. Taylor has very good speed (4.36 40 at the Combine). He is very athletic (played quarterback in an option offense in high school and originally signed with Tennessee as a wide receiver before converting to cornerback before the 2018 season) and can be moved around the secondary.

His speed can allow him to be a core special-teamer to start and provide depth at a number of positions in the secondary. He’s projected as a Day 3 pick, perhaps as early as the fourth round.

Some visits:
— The #Bengals are hosting Tennessee CB Alontae Taylor.
— Coastal Carolina CB Isaiah Likely is headed to the #Jets today.
— #TAMU OL Kenyon Green is with the #Cowboys today after spending time with the #AZCardinals. Then, he heads to the #Patriots.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 7, 2022