3:37pm: Lorig’s four-year contract is worth a total of $4.8MM, including a $1MM signing bonus and annual $40K workout bonuses, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who also tweets the annual base salaries.
11:20am: The Saints have agreed to terms with fullback Erik Lorig on a new contract, the team announced today (Twitter link via senior VP of communications Greg Bensel). Lorig will sign a four-year deal to play in New Orleans.
Lorig has spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Tampa Bay, appearing in 432 offensive snaps in 2012 and 391 in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The 27-year-old occasionally catches balls out of the backfield, having hauled in 23 receptions over the last two seasons, but is used primarily as a blocker. According to PFF, he has graded slightly above average as a pass blocker and slightly below average as a run blocker.
New Orleans’ own fullback, Jed Collins, was eligible for restricted free agency, but didn’t receive a contract tender from the club. While a report last week suggested the Saints still had interest in re-signing Collins, it appears Lorig will replace him on the roster. Meanwhile, the Lions are hosting Collins for a free agent visit, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.