The New Orleans Saints have been extremely active during the early part of NFL Free Agency.
The team has restructured the contracts of both wide receiver Michael Thomas, left tackle Terron Armstead, placed a first-round tender on backup quarterback-wide receiver Taysom Hill, renegotiated the contracts with of linebacker Kiko Alonso and cornerbacks Patrick Robinson and Janoris Jenkins, and then picked up the fifth-year options (for the 2021 season) on right tackle Ryan Ramczyk and cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
Below are the free agents the team has signed, including their own players as well as others, and the free agents that team has lost.
Resigned Free Agents
J.T. Gray / Safety / 1-year, $750,000
2019 Regular Season Stats: 16 games (0 starts), 17 tackles (13 solo)
Notes: The special teams specialist earned Pro Bowl honors in 2019.
Zach Wood / Long Snapper / 4-years, $4.78M
2019 Regular Season Stats: 16 games (0 starts)
Notes: A vauled member of the Saints kicking-punting unit.
David Onyemata / Defensive Tackle / 3-years, $27M
2019 Stats: 15 games (15 starts), 32 tackles (22 solo), and 3 sacks
Notes: Reliable interior defensive lineman that gives team added depth.
Drew Brees / Quarterback / 2-years, $50M
2019 Stats: 11 games (11 starts), 74.3 completion percentage, 2,979 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
Notes: Missed five games due to thumb surgery and turned 41 on Jan. 15.
Andrus Peat / Left Guard / 5-years, $57.5M
2019 Stats: 10 games (10 starts), 69th rated guard by Pro Football Focus
Notes: Missed six games to a forearm injury but still named to the Pro Bowl.
Justin Hardee / Cornerback / 1-year, TBD
2019 Regular Season Stats: 16 games (0 starts), 11 tackles (10 solo)
Notes: Has been a key member of team’s special team unit for three seasons.
D.J. Swearinger / Safety / 1-year, $1.1M
2019 Regular Season Stats: 9 games (7 starts), 50 tackles, 3 pass deflections.
Notes: Late-season pickup who also played for Oakland and Arizona in 2019.
Noah Spence / Defensive End / 1-year, $910,000
2019 Regular Season Stats: 7 games (0 starts), 3 tackles and 1 sack.
Notes: Former second-round pick of Tampa Bay back in 2016.
P.J. Williams / Defensive Back / 1-year, amount unknown
2019 Regular Season Stats: 14 games (8 starts), 44 tackles (34 solo), 1 sack, 4 pass deflections and 1 interception.
Notes: The 2015 third-round pick gives team versatility-depth in secondary.
Incoming Free Agents
Malcolm Jenkins / Safety / 4-years, $32M
2019 Regular Season Stats: 16 games (16 starts), 81 tackles (63 solo), 8 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks playing for Philadelphia.
Notes: Well-regarded leader returns to the team that drafted him in 2009.
Michael Burton / Fullback / 1-year, amount unknown
2019 Regular Season Stats: 10 games (2 starts), no rushing attempts and no receptions playing for Washington.
Notes: Spent last offseason and training camp with Saints.
Emmanuel Sanders / Wide Receiver / 2-years, $16M
2019 Regular Season Stats: 16 games (16 starts), 69 receptions, 869 yards and 5 touchdowns for both Denver and San Francisco.
Notes: Hauled in 7 catches for 157 yards against the Saints last season.
Deatrick Nichols / Cornerback / 1-year, amount unknown
2019 Regular Season Stats: Did not play in the NFL.
Notes: Led the XFL with 3 interceptions in 5 games for Houston Roughnecks.
Outgoing Free Agents
A.J. Klein / Linebacker / 3-years, $18M with Buffalo
2019 Regular Season Stats: 15 games (15 starts), 69 tackles (47 solo), 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception.
Notes: Former Panthers was a reliable linebacker for Saints in 2019.
Teddy Bridgewater / Quarterback / 3-years, $60M with Carolina
2019 Regular Season Stats: 9 games (5 starts), 67.9 completion percentage, 1,384 passing yards, 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Notes: Beloved backup guided Saints to a 5-0 record as starter in 2019.
Eli Apple / Cornerback / 1-year, $6M with Las Vegas
2019 Regular Season Stats: 15 games (15 starts), 58 tackles (54 solo), 1 forced fumble and 4 pass deflections.
Notes: Lined up as the team’s No. 2 cornerback for most of the season.
Keith Kirkwood / Wide Receiver / 1-year, amount unknown with Carolina
2019 Regular Season Stats: None. Did not appear in any games due to being placed on injured reserve with hamstring injury.
Notes: Undrafted player out of Temple who contributed during 2018 season.
Vonn Bell / Safety / 3-year, $18M with Cincinnati
2019 Regular Season Stats: 13 games (13 starts), 89 tackles (66 solo), 5 pass deflections, 5 fumble recoveries, 1.5 sacks and 1 interception.
Notes: A second-round pick of Saints in 2016 will be replaced by Jenkins.