Former Tennessee Stars Mays and Taylor Sign NFL Deals

Cade Mays joins the Detroit Lions, Alontae Taylor returns home to play for the Tennessee Titans

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Former University of Tennessee standouts Cade Mays and Alontae Taylor have signed new contracts with NFL teams during free agency. Mays, an offensive lineman, has agreed to a three-year, $25 million deal with the Detroit Lions, while defensive back Taylor is returning to his home state to join the Tennessee Titans on a three-year, $60 million contract.

Why it matters

The signings of Mays and Taylor highlight the continued success of Tennessee's football program in developing NFL-caliber talent. Both players had standout careers in Knoxville before being drafted and now have the opportunity to make an impact at the professional level, with Mays joining a rebuilding Lions team and Taylor returning home to play for the Titans.

The details

Mays, who transferred to Tennessee after starting his career at Georgia, was a two-year starter for the Volunteers and earned All-SEC honors in 2021. He was drafted in the 6th round by the Carolina Panthers in 2022 and started multiple games at center last season. Taylor was a four-year contributor in Tennessee's secondary, recording 182 tackles, 19 pass breakups, and 4 interceptions during his college career. He was a 2nd round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2022 and has been a multi-year starter for them.

  • Mays and Taylor signed their new NFL contracts on Monday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Cade Mays

A former offensive lineman for the University of Tennessee who has signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Detroit Lions.

Alontae Taylor

A former defensive back for the University of Tennessee who has signed a three-year, $60 million contract with the Tennessee Titans.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to build through the draft and free agency, and adding a player of Cade's caliber to our offensive line is a big step in the right direction.”

— Brad Holmes, General Manager, Detroit Lions (Detroit Free Press)

“Alontae is the kind of player and person that fits our culture perfectly. We're excited to have him join our secondary and make an impact in his hometown.”

— Mike Vrabel, Head Coach, Tennessee Titans (The Tennessean)

What’s next

Mays and Taylor will join their new teams for offseason workouts and training camp as they prepare for the 2026 NFL season.

The takeaway

The signings of Mays and Taylor demonstrate the continued pipeline of talent flowing from the University of Tennessee to the NFL, as the Volunteers continue to develop top-tier players who can make an impact at the professional level.