John Lepore | March 23rd, 2020
For the past three years, the Saints have been oh so close to getting back to the Super Bowl. Each year they retool to make another run. This year was no different as Mickey Loomis worked his cap magic as usual and brought in a couple new guys and some old friends.
Drew Brees
This was a no-brainer. When the future Hall of Fame quarterback says he wants to come back to the team he’s played for the last 14 years, you take him back. The Saints signed Brees to a two-year deal worth $50 million. He is the most accurate passer in history with a 67.6% completion percentage and also holds the record for most yards passing with 77,416. This year he will have Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, and Jared Cook to throw to along with…
Emmanuel Sanders
The former Niner, Bronco, and Steeler receiver inked a two-year, $16 million-dollar deal. The Saints have been searching for a solid number two wideout for what seems like forever. With Ted Ginn Jr. moving on, New Orleans now doesn’t have to rely on the draft for that other wide receiver. Sanders caught 66 passes for 869 yards and five touchdowns last season. He also has some playoff experience going to three Super Bowls and winning one with the Broncos in 2016.
David Onyemata
The Saints locked up one of their most consistent defensive linemen to a three-year, $27 million-dollar contract. He has been a rock in the middle of the Saints’ defensive line for four years since being taken in the fourth round of the 2016 draft and has missed only one game (week one 2019, suspended) in that time. He had 32 tackles and three sacks along with 11 QB hits.
Andrus Peat
Another player they brought back, Peat has been underwhelming since coming into the league. He has had some freak injuries so the injury-prone tag isn’t warranted. He signed a five-year, $57.5 million-dollar contract with $33 million guaranteed. This means that the Saints will be returning all five members of their top-5 offensive line. While Peat was overpaid to a point, offensive linemen are not easy to find. He is familiar with Brees and Sean Payton’s playbook so to keep continuity was important. Peat is still only 26 and can improve which is what, along with health, WhoDatNation will be hoping for in 2020.
Malcolm Jenkins
Another familiar face to Saints fans, Jenkins comes back to NOLA after spending the last six years with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a rookie on the Saints when they won the Super Bowl and now returns hoping to bring it back. They signed him for four years at $16 million fully guaranteed with incentives that could double that total. With Vonn Bell a younger and more expensive option, the Saints had to look elsewhere. If nothing else Jenkins is durable, starting all 96 games in Philly over the past six years.
D.J. Swearinger
The 28-year-old safety bounced around three different teams last year. The Saints decided to add a little more depth to their defensive backfield signing Swearinger to a one-year, $1.1 million-dollar deal. When he was with the Washington Redskins in 2017-2018 he had eight INTs, 20 PDs, and 132 tackles. He will be a solid piece in the defensive rotation.
Zach Wood
The long-snapper signed a four-year, $4.78 million-dollar deal. The kicking game has been great with punter Thomas Morstead and kicker Wil Lutz. Why not keep them together?
Michael Burton
The fullback has been mostly a special teams player but with Zach Line retiring, the Saints could use him in an expanded role blowing holes for Latavius Murray and Kamara.
Justin Hardee
The cornerback agreed to a one-year deal and will serve as depth in the secondary along with making his mark on special teams.
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