Cowboys finally have the opening to land their dream slot corner

The Dallas Cowboys’ interest in Maxx Crosby suggests they view edge rusher as their biggest need this offseason. That may be true, but nickel cornerback isn’t far behind.

Letting Jourdan Lewis walk two years ago was an egregious oversight -- one that Jerry Jones has finally admitted to. The Cowboys have sorely missed Lewis' physicality in the run game and ability to run with tight ends and smaller receivers in coverage.

If Christian Parker's introductory press conference was any indication, the nickel will be one of the most important positions in his defense.

Well, one of the top free agents in this year's class -- Saints veteran Alontae Taylor -- penned a heartfelt goodbye to the city of New Orleans, making him ripe for the picking when the legal tampering period begins on Monday.

The Dallas Cowboys now have the green light to sign Alontae Taylor

With the Saints looking to usher in a new era under head coach Kellen Moore, they are allowing longtime vets like Taylor, Demario Davis, and Cam Jordan to test free agency. Taylor was a candidate for the franchise tag, but he would have counted roughly $21 million against the salary cap.

If Taylor's name rings a bell, that might be because he led the Saints with nine tackles, including a tackle for loss, in the Saints' 44-19 route of the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in 2024.

Simply put, Taylor is exactly what Parker is looking for in a nickel corner. He’s played more snaps in the slot (1,664) than outside (1,597) in his career, but he’s comfortable at both spots. Like Jourdan Lewis, he doesn’t have elite ball production, but his value goes well beyond the box score.

Don't let the low interception output fool you. Taylor compiled 52 passes defended and 32 pass breakups in his four seasons with the Saints. He's also effective as a blitzer, racking up eight sacks on just 110 pass-rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

Nickel has become one of the most important positions on the field. Kyle Hamilton, Devon Witherspoon, Nick Emmanwori, Cooper DeJean, Derwin James, and Trent McDuffie are arguably the most important defenders for their respective teams.

Taylor can step in and make a similar impact for the Cowboys, but it will require Jerry Jones to step outside his comfort zone. As one of the top cornerbacks on the market, the 27-year-old will have plenty of suitors, and more suitors usually means a bigger contract.