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New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

Contract Details: Mathieu, Pamphile, Watson, Weeden

March 31st, 2018 at 9:35am CST by Ben Levine

Some details on recent free agent deals (all links via Twitter):

NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero also has signing bonus/guarantee details on players who signed one-year deals: TE Levine Toilolo $400K (Lions), LB Pernell McPhee $350K (Redskins), QB Brandon Weeden $90K (Texans), CB Leon Hall $45K (Raiders).

Ravens Work Out WR Willie Snead

March 30th, 2018 at 5:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens auditioned wide receiver Willie Snead on Friday, Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Snead participated in the same workout as fellow wideout Michael Floyd. 

Snead is a restricted free agent of the Saints at the lowest level tender, meaning that New Orleans has the option to match any offer sheet he signs. If the offer sheet is not matched, the team will not have to forfeit any draft compensation.

Snead, 26 in October, didn’t do much last season. However, in the previous two campaigns, he averaged 70 catches for 940 yards and four touchdowns. The Saints’ decision to not use a second-round tender on Snead may be an indication that they won’t go far to retain him.

Last year, as an exclusive rights free agent, he pushed for an an new big money contract and didn’t get it. Snead is unlikely to hit the jackpot this time around, but he could position himself for a bigger payday if he does well on a one-year deal elsewhere.

Saints Sign TE Benjamin Watson

March 28th, 2018 at 11:36am CST by Zachary Links

Tight end Ben Watson agreed to a one-year deal with the Saints, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. This marks a return for Watson, who spent 2013-2015 with New Orleans. 

The Saints tried to facilitate a more ambitious tight end reunion this offseason by pursuing Seahawks free agent Jimmy Graham. That didn’t pan out, but they have managed to add experience at the position at a cheaper rate by signing Watson.

Watson had 61 catches for 522 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games with the Ravens last season, demonstrating that he’s still productive, even in his old age. The veteran turned 37 in December.

Watson’s 2015 season with the Saints was the best of his long career. In that campaign, he set career-highs in receptions (74), yards (825), and touchdowns (six) while catching passes from Drew Brees.

The 2004 draft product will now compete with Coby Fleener for the starting role and he may have the edge after Fleener managed just 22 catches last season. Josh Hill, Michael Hoomanawanui, and Garrett Grayson fill out the club’s tight end depth chart.

Saints To Meet With Benny Cunningham

March 28th, 2018 at 9:16am CST by Zachary Links

Running back Benny Cunningham is expected to visit the Saints soon, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. He adds that other teams are interested in Cunningham, who has appeal both as a backup running back and special teams standout.

The Saints are set at the top of their running back depth chart with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, but there could be room for Cunnigham in a group behind them that currently includes Trey Edmunds, Daniel Lasco, and Jonathan Williams. The Saints are the bottom ten of the league in salary cap space, per Over The Cap, but Cunningham would not be a costly addition for them.

Cunningham averaged 27.8 yards per kick return with the Rams from 2014-16, which would make him an intriguing special teams pickup. Last year, Alvin Kamara averaged 31.5 yards per return for the Saints, but they may look to protect him a bit more going forward and use him less frequently on kick returns. Tommylee Lewis had the most KR attempts of any Saint (13) and he averaged 23.6 per try.

Cunningham visited the Buccaneers on Sunday but left Florida without signing a deal.

Saints Host TE Benjamin Watson

March 27th, 2018 at 5:08pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints hosted free agent tight end Benjamin Watson on Tuesday, reports Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). As of last week, Watson was reportedly discussing a deal with the Chiefs, but the veteran pass-catcher is now taking visits elsewhere, leaving the status of his talks with Kansas City unclear.

Watson should be extremely familiar to the New Orleans staff, as the 37-year-old played for the club from 2013-15. That 2015 season marked the most successful campaign of Watson’s lengthy NFL career, as he set career-highs in receptions (74), yards (825), and touchdowns (six) while catching passes from Drew Brees. Watson inked a two-year deal with the Ravens the following spring, and after a torn Achilles sidelined him for the 2016 season, Watson bounced back with a 61/522/4 line last year.

The Saints have yet to address their tight end group this offseason, although it’s a unit that could use improvements. Starter Coby Fleener managed only 22 catches a year ago but will almost certainly make New Orleans’ roster following the guarantee of his 2018 base salary, while the rest of the club’s depth chart — which includes Josh Hill, Michael Hoomanawanui, and Garrett Grayson — doesn’t offer much upside. Saints head coach Sean Payton called reinforcing tight end a “must,” tweets Mike Triplett of ESPN.com, so additions could be made via the draft if Watson or another free agent isn’t signed.

Saints Meet With WR Cameron Meredith

March 26th, 2018 at 3:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints met with Bears restricted free agent wideout Cameron Meredith on Saturday, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago tendered Meredith at the original round level, meaning the Saints — or any other club that signs Meredith to an offer sheet — wouldn’t be required to give the Bears draft pick compensation if Chicago opts not to match an offer sheet. New Orleans is now the third club to take a visit with Meredith, joining the Colts and Ravens.

Meredith is coming off a torn ACL, so his free agent visits are likely involving medical checks. But if his knee is clean, Meredith could be a bargain addition for an interested team. In 2016, the now-25-year-old Meredith posted 66 receptions for 888 yards and four touchdowns. Given that he tore his ACL last September, Meredith should conceivably be ready for the start of the 2018 campaign, or at least soon thereafter.

The Saints, for their part, don’t have much depth behind starters Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn Jr. New Orleans tendered Willie Snead at the original round level (and has witnessed him take a visit with the Ravens), while the team non-tendered Brandon Coleman. Meredith could theoretically replace Snead as the Saints’ slot receiver, and provide depth alongside Tommylee Lewis, Austin Carr, and Paul Turner.

Rams Are Favorites For Ndamukong Suh

March 26th, 2018 at 8:08am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Rams are now the front-runners for free agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). While Suh has not officially ruled out the Titans or Saints, he seems to be focusing in on Los Angeles.

Suh has been linked to five clubs since being released by the Dolphins earlier this month. In addition to the Rams, Titans, and Saints, Suh also received an offer from the Jets, and that proposal was believed to have been the largest in terms of dollars. New York, however, rescinded their offer on Sunday, with owner Christopher Johnson indicating Suh “wasn’t in keeping with [the Jets’] long-term plans.” Suh was also scheduled to meet with the Raiders, but that visit was ultimately canceled.

Los Angeles uses a 3-4 scheme, meaning Suh would be moving away from a 4-3 defense for the first time in his career. The Titans and Jets also deploy 3-4 fronts, so working in a new look clearly doesn’t present an issue for Suh. With the Rams, Suh would play end opposite superstar Aaron Donald, providing the club with what would be the most feared defensive line in the NFL.

Suh is now 31 years old, but he’s still a dominant player: he managed 20.5 pressures and and 4.5 sacks from his defensive tackle position while grading as the NFL’s No. 5 interior defender in 2017, per Pro Football Focus. He’s also incredibly durable, as he hasn’t missed a single contest since 2012. Last season, Suh played a whopping 883 snaps, the second-most of any defensive tackle in the league.

At present, the Rams possess roughly $28MM in cap space, per Over the Cap, so they’ll have enough room to fit a hefty Suh salary on their 2018 books.

Saints Could Improve At Receiver

March 25th, 2018 at 9:13pm CST by Micah Powell
  • Among several other spots, the Saints can also stand to improve their wide receiver corps, The Times-Picayune’s Larry Holder writes. The team is locked into Michael Thomas as the No. 1 of the future, but the Saints could also bring in a veteran like Jordan Matthews or address the position in the draft, according to Holder. The writer also mentions running back, tight end, fullback and defensive tackle as positions that need to be improved upon.

Saints To Hold Private Visit For LSU LB Arden Key

March 24th, 2018 at 7:46pm CST by Ryan Posner
  • LSU linebacker Arden Key told Joel A. Erickson of The Advocate that the Saints are planning to host him for a private visit before the draft. Key said many teams have reached out to his agency and that he doesn’t plan to take any visits or workouts before LSU’s pro day on April 4. Key is projected to be a late-first-round or early-second-round pick. The Saints hold the No. 27 overall pick in the draft.

Saints Never Reached Out To Tyrann Mathieu

March 24th, 2018 at 4:47pm CST by Ryan Posner
  • The Saints have already indicated that they don’t plan to re-sign safety Kenny Vaccaro and Tyrann Mathieu told Joel A. Erickson of The Advocate (on Twitter) that the team never reached out to him prior to signing with the Texans. Mathieu is a New Orleans native and attended LSU, and also told Erickson he has a good relationship with Sean Payton.
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