Headed into 2021 NFL free agency, the Unique Orleans Saints prioritized preserving FS Marcus Williams making exhaust of the franchise tag on the four-year extinct. The pass makes it now no longer going that the crew will pursue one other starting safety all by free agency.
Williams, if truth be told one of many premier younger safeties in the league, has recorded 13 profession interceptions and 1 defensive touchdown in 60 profession widespread-season video games. The Utah product has additionally appeared in 7 playoff video games, recording one takeaway. With the franchise tag applied, Williams will play on a one-year deal worth roughly $10.5M in 2021.
A glance on the Unique Orleans Saints on the protection net page.
Recent Saints Safeties Below Contract for 2021
- Marcus Williams, 24 (Signed Franchise At ease
- Malcolm Jenkins, 33
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson, 23
- J.T. Gray, 25
Saints Safeties That Are Free Brokers in 2021
- D.J. Swearinger, 36
- Justin Hardee Sr., 27 (Agreed to Terms With NYJ)
Unique Orleans will positively omit Special Groups Ace, Justin Hardee Sr., who just lately signed a three-year tackle the Unique York Jets. Hardee served as a pivotal phase of the Saints Special Groups unit that ranked atop the punt return moderate league. At some point of his tenure in Unique Orleans, the WR grew to vary into DB recorded 47 tackles in 56 video games.
Mickey Loomis will additionally private a gap to thrill in in-depth and extinct management with the doable of DB D.J. Swearinger finding a fresh home this offseason. The NFL extinct joined Unique Orleans late in the 2019 season and logged 15 complete widespread-season appearances for the Saints, offering depth and versatility in the defensive backfield.
Despite the doable lack of both gamers, the crew would no longer private a foremost gap to slouch at safety headed into the originate up of free agency. The Saints would per chance, however, glance to interchange both reserve with if truth be told one of many free agents below.
Readily available in the market Safeties in Free Agency
- Tre Boston, 29, CAR
- Kenny Vaccaro, 30, TEN
- Chris Banjo, 31, ARI
© Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Replacing special groups ace Justin Hardee Sr. in total is a horrifying activity for Unique Orleans this offseason. But the crew would per chance glance against aged Saint Chris Banjo (2016-18) to reprise his feature as a key special groups player for the Saints in 2021. Banjo spent the final two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, collecting profession highs in both tackles and starts final season.
When it involves filling in the gap that lengthy-time NFL extinct D.J Swearinger leaves, the Saints would per chance glance to pluck aged Panthers’ safety Tre Boston off the market. Boston started all 16 video games for the Saints NFC South foe in every of the final two seasons, collecting 4 INTs.
Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen would per chance additionally re-connect with a outdated first-spherical draft desire of the Unique Orleans Saints, Kenny Vaccaro (2013-2017). The Tennessee Titans just lately launched the aged Texas Longhorn after aid-to-aid 80+ sort out seasons. Vaccaro spent two full seasons below Allen in Unique Orleans and can return to the Bayou as a reserve “box” safety in 2021.
© Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Free Agency opened at 3 PM CT on March 17, thus allowing groups who private already reached verbal agreements to manufacture the strikes decent. Unique Orleans would per chance now no longer be in the marketplace for a mountainous named addition to this low season’s defensive backfield. Then again, bringing in a depth piece or special groups ace would be in the works over the approaching days.
Will Who Dat Nation leer a reunion or two with a aged Saints DB? Simplest time will inform.
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