In the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints surprised some with their selection of Alontae Taylor out of Tennessee. Taylor would go on to have a major versatile role in the New Orleans defense for the last four years before departing as a free agent this offseason. Now, the Saints may eye up a similar player like Tacario Davis from the Washington Huskies as a replacement.
New Orleans ranked fourth in pass defense last year thanks to a young secondary. However, losing Taylor creates a need that they may fill with an early draft choice. If they use a later pick on their secondary, then Davis has some valuable attributes that have NFL teams interested.
A three-star recruit at Millikan High School in California, Davis chose the Arizona Wildcats to start his collegiate career. He'd see only five games of playing time as a freshman in 2022, but emerged in big-time fashion as a sophomore. In 2023, Davis had an interception and led the Pac-12 with 15 passes broken up, leading to a 2nd Team All-Pac-12 selection.
Davis didn't record an interception in 2024, but broke up 6 passes in earning a second straight All-Pac-12 recognition. He'd jump to the Washington Huskies as a transfer last season. Injuries limited Davis to only seven games in 2025, where he'd have 2 interceptions and 3 pass breakups.
Reads quarterbacks extremely well in off-ball coverage
lays too upright, limiting his reaction quickness against breaks
May not have the agility for consistent NFL man coverage
Not too many corners possess the combination of length and speed that Davis brings. It's those measurables that could cause a team to grab him with a second or third round pick. Davis has some flaws in his game, but his natural abilities should at least allow him to be an instant contributor in extra defensive back packages.
Tacario Davis has a lot of the physical attributes that Alontae Taylor had with the Saints. Davis will probably be more effective in off-ball coverage early on, but that's mostly the type of scheme that Brandon Staley often employs. Depending on the system or his development, Davis could also be moved to safety at some point. If the Saints are looking for a bigger defensive back on the second day, Davis could definitely be on their radar.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Washington Huskies CB Tacario Davis scouting report