The Cincinnati Bengals lost a key player from their secondary after Cam Taylor-Britt decided to leave via free agency to sign with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
Taylor-Britt signed a one-year contract with the Colts, which can be seen as a prove-it deal, as the 26-year-old hopes that a better 2026 NFL season could allow him to cash in on a long-term contract next offseason.
Moreover, signing with the Colts reunites Taylor-Britt with former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. As a result, that played a larger role in the defensive back signing that one-year deal in hopes that this reunion leads to a more lucrative contract in 2027.
“Man, that’s my dog,” Taylor-Britt said of Anarumo (h/t Colts.com). “That’s all I really say, man. I think that’s one of the big reasons that I’m here. Man, we had a great relationship while I was attending the Bengals when they drafted me, and it’s kind of been great ever since then. When he gave me a call and had me come up, I was very excited man. Can’t wait for this opportunity.”
Colts Add Cam Taylor-Britt as Depth to Talented Secondary
Taylor-Britt, a second-round pick by the Bengals in the 2022 NFL Draft, spent time playing under Anarumo in Cincinnati through 2024. During his four seasons with the Bengals from 2022 to 2025, Taylor-Britt played in 47 games, starting 40.
He recorded 38 passes defensed, including seven interceptions and 31 pass breakups, along with two pick-sixes and 203 total tackles. The 26-year-old steps into a loaded cornerback group that includes Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward Sr., and Kenny Moore II, with hopes of providing the final boost the Colts’ secondary has been missing.
“[Anarumo] knows my kind of game play and how tough that – he loves his corners (who) like to come up and hit, play man-to-man, come down and just play grimy football,” Taylor-Britt said. “And I think that’s kind of the way that I succeeded.”
Another Former Bengals Player Joins the Colts
Meanwhile, Taylor-Britt isn’t the only former Bengal signing with the Colts, as Akeem Davis-Gaither is also reuniting with Anarumo.
“I built up a great relationship with Lou when I spent time with him in Cincinnati,” Davis-Gaither said. “I have a relationship with him, I trust him, I trust his system, I trust in his ability to call a good defense.
“So I mean, it made it easy to want to be here, play under his play calling. And then just the organization, the owners have a great history. Heard a lot of great things about the organization from former players and current players. It was a no-brainer.”
Davis-Gaither was picked by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and spent five seasons with the team, including time under coach Lou Anarumo, before joining the Arizona Cardinals in 2025.
“I would come in as the third linebacker in Cincinnati and play that nickel spot,” Davis-Gaither added. “Him being able to move me around wherever, but if [Germaine] Pratt or Logan [Wilson] would have went down, I mean I was interchangeable.”
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