New Orleans Saints Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Saints Expected To Target Jimmy Graham

March 5th, 2018 at 1:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Could a reunion be on the horizon for the Saints and tight end Jimmy Graham? The Saints are expected to be among the teams with interest in Graham when free agency opens on March 14, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter).

In line with what we’ve heard previously, Pelissero says that Graham is not expected to re-sign with the Seahawks this offseason. There should be plenty of opportunities out there for Graham, however, as he profiles as one of the top tight ends in this year’s class. Other big names include Eagles free agent Trey Burton (who should draw the most lucrative deal of any free agent TE) and Jets free agent Austin Seferian-Jenkins.

Over the last four years, Graham has been the league’s highest-paid tight end with average annual salary value of $10MM. He’ll make less on his next contract, but he figures to do well on a multi-year deal.

The Saints have tight ends Coby Fleener, Josh Hill, Michael Hoomanawanui, Garrett Griffin, Clay Harbor, and Alex Ellis on the roster, but finding a difference maker at tight end is one of the team’s top priorities. Going for a proven free agent such as Graham would make sense, but the Saints also met with some of the draft’s top tight end prospects at the combine last week and they could fill the void there.

“I think there are some players there,” GM Mickey Loomis said of this year’s tight end crop in the draft (via Herbie Teope of the Times Picayune). “I think there’s a good group of players, and so how they fit us, I think that remains to be determined yet. I think, in general, this is going to be a decent draft class.”

Graham, 32 in November, was among the league’s best tight ends while with New Orleans. From 2011-2014, Graham averaged 89 catches for 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns per season. He earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods in his two most recent seasons with the Saints, but his production has not been quite the same.

Latest On Michigan DT Maurice Hurst

March 4th, 2018 at 9:50am CST by Zachary Links

SUNDAY, 9:50am: Gil Brandt of NFL.com tweets that Hurst has not, in fact, left the combine yet, though he will undergo more tests shortly. Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports reports (via Twitter) that Hurst will be meeting with one of the nation’s top heart specialists from the Cleveland Clinic, and that there should be more clarity on the situation after next week. For what it’s worth (and hopefully that’s a lot), Hurst himself has said he is not concerned about the tests, and he hopes to participate in Michigan’s pro day on March 23 (Twitter link via Kimberly Jones of NFL.com).

SATURDAY, 6:11pm: A potential first-round pick has hit a major roadblock. Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst was found to have a heart condition and has left the draft combine in Indianapolis, league sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter) He’ll undergo further testing this week.

Hurst was cleared to play by medical officials at Michigan, but his condition popped up as a red flag for Saints doctors, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) adds. One source that spoke with Rapoport compared Hurst’s condition to that of former Lions and Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley. Fairley missed all of the 2017 season due to that issue but is now looking to return to football.

Hurst was on the draft radar last year, but analysts told Albert Breer of The MMQB back in December that he helped his draft stock by staying in school for an extra season. That may be the case, but his entire football future may be in flux.

As a senior, Hurst totaled 59 tackles, including 13 tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks. In his final three seasons with the Wolverines, he amassed 13.5 sacks in total.

Saints Won't Pursue WR Jarvis Landry

March 3rd, 2018 at 11:19am CST by Ben Levine

The Saints may be in the market for some offensive skill players, but it sounds like they’re going to avoid one of the top trade options. Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com writes that the team will not make a trade for Dolphins wideout Jarvis Landry.

The writer notes that the team expressed interest in the wideout during the combine this past week. Considering the Saints would have to give up assets in a trade and tolerate his franchise tag ($16MM), the team ultimately decided that it would cost too much to add a “luxury” piece to their core. The team is already rostering offensive playmakers like Michael Thomas, Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara and Ted Ginn Jr.. However, Katzenstein believes the Saints will ultimately be in the market for a free agent wide receiver or tight end.

[SOURCE LINK]

Saints Sign DB Kurt Coleman

March 3rd, 2018 at 8:36am CST by Ben Levine

The Saints added some reinforcement at safety overnight. Following a meeting earlier this week, the team has signed former Panthers defensive back Kurt Coleman, reports Nick Underhill of The Advocate (via Twitter). Underhill notes (via Twitter) that it’s a three-year deal for Coleman, while NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds that the deal is worth $18MM, with $6.5MM due in the first year of the contract.

Coleman, a 2010 seventh-round pick out of Ohio State, bounced around the league during his first few years in the NFL. He ultimately landed with the Panthers in 2015, and he proceeded to start 30 games for the organization between 2015 and 2016. During that two-year stretch, Coleman finished each campaign with at least 90 tackles, seven passes defended, and four interceptions. However, the 29-year-old took a bit of a step back in 2017, compiling 76 tackles, three passes defended, and zero interceptions. These numbers ultimately earned him a bottom-10 safety ranking according to Pro Football Focus.

Despite the struggles, Coleman should still get an opportunity to play next season in New Orleans. The Saints aren’t expected to re-sign defensive back Kenny Vaccaro, meaning Coleman could play plenty in the team’s three-safety sets. He’ll ultimately compete with Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams for playing time, but there should be more than enough snaps for the trio.

The Saints weren’t the only team to express interest in the veteran safety. According to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell (via Twitter), the Bengals also offered Coleman a three-year deal.

Saints Notes: Fairley, Kelemete, Kuhn, Line

March 1st, 2018 at 9:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After missing the entire 2017 season as a result of a heart ailment, free agent defensive tackle Nick Fairley wants to play during the upcoming campaign, tweets Nick Underhill of the Advocate. The Saints, who inked Fairley to a four-year deal last offseason but released him last month, are not expected to be involved in a potential Fairley pursuit, per Underhill. Fairley was an excellent interior defender at full strength, but it’s unclear if any NFL club would be willing to bet on his health. Indeed, Fairley hasn’t been medically cleared to play, as Underhill tweets, so a return to the league seems unlikely.

Here’s more from New Orleans:

Free agent offensive lineman Senio Kelemete is experiencing a “healthy market,” according to Josh Katzenstein of the Advocate, and while the Saints will likely be interested in retaining him, any reunion will be based on cost. New Orleans isn’t likely to offer Kelemete a chance to start, as the club is set with Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat, Max Unger, Larry Warford, and Ryan Ramczyk from left to right. Kelemete’s versatility and ability to play nearly every position on the line is his key asset, but he’d surely prefer a starting job to a reserve role.
The Saints and free agent fullback John Kuhn have mutual interest in a return, sources tell Herbie Teope of NOLA.com. Kuhn, who was sidelined for the majority of the 2017 campaign after suffering a biceps injury, is currently considering whether he’ll continue his playing career or enter the coaching ranks, per Teope. Fellow Saints fullback Zach Line, who appeared in 12 games for New Orleans following Kuhn’s injury, is drawing interest around the league, reports Katzenstein, but the Saints have interest in retaining him, as well.
Saints assistant general manager Jeff Ireland orchestrated arguably the NFL’s best draft class last spring, and he’d like to become a primary decision-maker again in the future, as Underhill writes. “Absolutely, why wouldn’t it be?” Ireland said when asked if getting a second GM job is his goal. “I’m not in a hurry. I told myself when I got to New Orleans I was going to help this team build. I’d really have to think twice about leaving the New Orleans Saints before we won a Super Bowl.” Ireland previously served as the Dolphins’ general manager from 2008-13, and the club posted a 46-50 record under his lead.
Although he hasn’t expressed a willingness to accept a full-time position, the Saints would like to have special teams consultant Mike Westhoff return next season, according to Katzenstein. Westhoff is currently recovering a surgical operation which could limit his availability, but New Orleans is willing to allow the 70-year-old a varied schedule. He wouldn’t be accepting the lead special teams coach role, as the Saints intend to retain Bradford Banta (primary ST coach) and Kevin O’Dea (assistant).

Saints Meeting With DB Kurt Coleman

March 1st, 2018 at 5:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Kurt Coleman was released by the Panthers on Monday, but he’s already lined up a meeting with another NFC South club. Coleman met with a Saints contingent in Indianapolis today, according to Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com, who adds (via Twitter) Coleman is expected to visit with multiple teams while at the combine.

The Saints — who have historically played a good deal of three-safety looks — aren’t expected to re-sign defensive back Kenny Vaccaro, so Coleman would give New Orleans another option to play in sub packages. He’d also add experience and leadership to a safety group that includes young starter Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams, each of whom entered the league within the past two years.

Coleman, 29, was a solid starter for Carolina in 2015-16, but struggled last season, grading as a bottom-10 safety per Pro Football Focus. That performance wasn’t enough for Coleman to keep his job, especially given that he was scheduled to count for $5.15MM on the Panthers’ salary cap in 2018.

Now that he’s on the open market, Coleman is part of a free agent safety class which also includes Lamarcus Joyner, Eric Reid, Morgan Burnett, Tre Boston, and Vaccaro.

Saints Won’t Re-Sign DB Kenny Vaccaro

February 28th, 2018 at 5:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints do not plan to re-sign free agent defensive back Kenny Vaccaro, sources tell Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com.

Vaccaro is wrapping up his rookie contract (which included an exercised fifth-year option) with the Saints, and he’ll be an interesting free agent given that he has the ability to play both safety and slot cornerback. The 27-year-old graded as one of the NFL’s best run-defending defensive backs in 2017, but ranked as the single-worst coverage safety in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.

Despite that lack of production, it’s still possible Vaccaro meets a solid market given his first-round pedigree and positional versatility. The Cowboys, speculatively, could have interest given that they reportedly attempted to trade for Vaccaro last season. On the open market, Vaccaro will join a list of safeties that includes Lamarcus Joyner, Eric Reid, and Morgan Burnett, while available slot corners include Nickell Robey-Coleman, Aaron Colvin, and Patrick Robinson.

The Saints, for their part, have drafted two safeties — Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams — in the past two years, so their need to retain Vaccaro is lessened. New Orleans is also hoping to get a number of cornerbacks healthy in 2018, so Vacarro wouldn’t have been required in the slot.

Saints OT Zach Strief To Retire

February 28th, 2018 at 12:46pm CST by Zachary Links

Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief is expected to retire this offseason, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Strief has yet to announce his decision, but that should take place soon.

“The reality is that we all love some part of this game and there’s a part of that that’s just in us,” Strief said in January as he hinted at retirement. “So it makes it very difficult always when that happens, when that time comes. And like I said, I think take some time, really make that decision away from football and make it with your family. When it is time, I will have no regrets. I know that when I decide that this has gone on so much longer and so much better than I ever could have imagined.”

Strief turned in one of his best seasons to date in 2016, but he was limited in 2017 after suffering serious knee injuries. Fortunately for the Saints, they already have two quality tackles in-house at a time when teams are scrambling for quality linemen. Terron Armstead will continue as the team’s starting left tackle with 2017 first-round pick Ryan Ramczyk on the right side. Last year, Ramczyk graded out as the No. 8 tackle in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Armstead wasn’t too far behind at No. 25.

Strief leaves the NFL after 12 seasons, all of which were spent in New Orleans. Going back to 2006, he appeared in 158 games with 94 starts.

QB Notes: Brees, Cousins, Bortles, Draft

February 27th, 2018 at 9:52pm CST by Micah Powell

The Saints and Drew Brees have expressed mutual interest in maintaining their partnership going forward. While the future Hall of Fame quarterback is unlikely to leave when free agency opens, the team’s financial flexibility is greatly impacted if a deal is not reached by March 14, The Times-Picayune’s Josh Katzenstein writes.

If he is not signed by that date, Katzenstein notes Brees’ remaining three years on his contract will void and his remaining signing bonus will count for $18 MM in dead cap space. Knowing the situation the Saints are faced with, Brees and his team have a ton of leverage.

Brees, 39, is likely to look for a multi-year deal but the quarterback has mentioned taking his future one year at a time. Though his passing totals weren’t at the gaudy levels of years past, he was still an effective signal-caller, leading the league in completion percentage and ranking second in passer rating.

It is unlikely the two sides won’t come to an agreement by the deadline, but it is a story to follow.

Here’s more quarterback news from around the league:

The Broncos have a meeting scheduled with Mike McCartney — agent to, among others, Kirk Cousins, Trevor Siemian and Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta — in Indianapolis while the two sides are in town for the NFL Combine, NBC 9 News’ Mike Klis reports. Per NFL tampering rules, the two sides can not discuss Cousins, but are free to talk about the latter two. Cousins is expected to be a top target of the Broncos once free agency opens.
Sticking with Cousins, the Vikings are expected to be strong contenders for the quarterback’s services NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (Twitter link). In the video clip, Garafolo says he has been told by sources “the whole way” that the Vikes are going to make a strong push for the prized free agent.
The Jaguars‘ contract to Blake Bortles is more about freeing up cap space for this year rather than rewarding or showing confidence in the quarterback, overthecap.com’s Jason Fitzgerald writes. “The Jaguars front office should know what Bortles is and I don’t anticipate that this contract will change the fact that they could consider drafting a QB or signing a decent player to be a backup who could be asked to start if things go bad. They really just needed cap space and to that end they did a decent job.”
If teams are looking to draft a developmental quarterback, two of the most intriguing names are Lauletta, the Senior Bowl MVP, and Washington State’s Luke Falk, Yahoo’s Charles Robinson tweets. Robinson also notes the Redskins president Bruce Allen went to Lauletta’s Richmond and is very familiar with the quarterback.
Though the Dolphins are committed to Ryan Tannehill being their starter in 2018, that does not mean the team won’t look to draft a quarterback with its No. 11 pick in the first round, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson writes. He says the Dolphins were impressed by Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield in interviews at the Senior Bowl, though he is expected to be off the board by the time Miami gets on the clock.

Saints Release LB Gerald Hodges, Claim OT John Theus

February 27th, 2018 at 5:43pm CST by Micah Powell

The Saints made a pair of moves on Tuesday, releasing veteran linebacker Gerald Hodges to clear way for offensive lineman John Theus, who the team claimed following his release from the Panthers on Monday.

Hodges joined the team in 2017 following its Week 5 bye week and became a key cog on special teams. He appeared in only 13 snaps on defense, however, 11 of those coming in a blowout victory over Buffalo in Week 10. The Saints were the third team Hodges had played with since entering the league in 2013, following stints with Minnesota and San Francisco.

A fifth-round selection in 2016 out of Georgia, Theus appeared in four games and made one start with the 49ers as a rookie before joining the Panthers in 2017. He did not appear in a game with the Panthers before going on injured reserve in December.

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