Three Is the Magic Number
On Day 3 of Free Agency but First day where players can officially sign contracts they agreed upon, the Saints bring in three free agents!
I guess the smoke has cleared.
If there is one thing the Saints do on free agency, they like to wait. Saints only jumped in once over a ten-year period, and that was in 2014. I don’t need to get into it further. Mickey loves to see what is left after the bad teams try to pry the premium fruit after paying the bad team tax. Saints look to get good role players and on reasonable deals. They set on what they are willing to pay for certain positions and they stick to it. It might not always reel them the flashiest and sexiest name in the market, but it can get them some good old-fashioned contributors.
Mickey Loomis went to work as soon as he and Khai Harley became cap compliant. Just a mere day before, he managed to get to QB Jameis Winston and WR Michael Thomas to lower their cap numbers, keep them on the team, and gave them both prove it deals. Both Winston and Thomas got “one-year contracts” designed to essentially prove that they aren’t washed. Low base salaries given their talent and role with heavy incentives. Winston a one-year deal, four million that can rise to eight. Thomas, one year: ten million that can rise to fifteen.
Then came the third day of free agency. On the third day of the week, of the fifteenth day. True it was the first day teams can sign their players that can agree to contract terms, but it was still the third day of free agency. Saints got started luring DT from the New York Jets, Nathan Shepherd with a three-year deal, worth up to $15 million. Then a mere five minutes later, they signed another DT but with the Kansas City Chiefs. Saints agreed with Khalen Saunders on a three-year deal worth up to $14.5 million. And just as you prepared a nice dinner, Kahi Harley gave fans one more signing, and it was the big one. Saints landed RB Jamaal Williams on a three-year deal worth up to $12 million with $8 million guaranteed. Pretty nice day for Khai and Mickey.
Nathan Shepherd:
Nathan Shepherd played five years with the New York Jets. Drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Shepherd had been a solid role player for the Jets. He is a solid pass rusher that has steadily improved his run defender. Good size at 6’4”, 315lb. Pretty athletic.
Jets tried to resign him, but the Saints offered more money. Always follow the cash. Shepherd should get a good amount of playing time. He and Saunders are the only veterans, as of now, and should get some good and early play time. Should serve well as a nice 3T
Khalen Saunders:
This is the interesting signing. Khalen Saunders (pronounced KHAN-lin not KAY-len) was a third-round pick from 2019 by the Kansas City Chiefs. He has been a rising player based on what many players and writers have said on him when his deal got announced.
Though undersized, Saunders is a very athletic defensive tackle. If you haven’t seen him do a backflip already, then you don’t have a social media account. Saunders displayed good motor and speed when in pursuit. Saunders is more of a nose tackle and pretty solid overall. Saints are betting on his ascension and should get a lot of opportunities. He is a pretty good run defender though Kansas City had him play more pass rush snaps. He should be interesting on this defense.
Jamaal Williams:
This really is the big one. If you were to tell me two weeks ago that Jamaal Williams would be available and would sign with us, I’d think you were on something. I never thought Williams would hit the market, that he would resign with Detroit after a breakout season. But on Monday, the Lions agreed to terms with former Bears RB David Montgomery. Three-year deal, up to $18 million. That sadly spelt the end for Williams at Detroit.
Williams fills the need perfectly for the Saints: a short yardage back that can convert red zone opportunities. And he is great at it, since of the league leading 17 TDs he scored in 2022, 16 came within the 20-yard line. Williams addresses a big need with how porous the Saints red-zone offense was.
Overview:
That was a good day of signings. Never go into the draft with massive, gaping holes.