Taylor and the Bengals agreed on a one-year contract Thursday. Taylor will head to Cincinnati after splitting his 2025 campaign between the Chargers and Jets, compiling 21 total tackles (12 solo) and a pass defensed over 17 regular-season contests. The 26-year-old will provide the Bengals with an additional experienced option at slot cornerback behind Jalen Davis and another option on special teams in 2026.
The Jets acquired Taylor from the Chargers on Tuesday in exchange for a 2028 conditional seventh-round draft pick. After dealing away No. 1 cornerback Sauce Gardner (concussion) to the Colts earlier Tuesday in exchange for wideout Adonai Mitchell and a pair of early draft picks, the Jets moved to bring aboard Taylor in a separate trade to replenish their secondary. Taylor had suited up in each of the Chargers' first nine games of 2025 but had played almost exclusively on special teams, tallying eight tackles. He could get the opportunity to earn more snaps on defense with his move to New York, though Taylor's initial usage will most likely be limited to sub packages.
Taylor (ribs) logged 29 defensive snaps and recorded three tackles (two solo) in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game versus Detroit. Taylor's 2024 season was cut short due to a ribs injury suffered in Week 18, but he's healthy now and competing for a starting job in the Chargers' revamped secondary.