The Saints have added some veteran depth to their defensive line, according to the team’s senior VP of communications, Greg Bensel. Bensel tweets that Kevin Williams has signed with the club, replacing tight end Harold Spears, who was waived.
Williams, who will turn 35 in August, visited the Saints last month, but didn’t immediately sign with the team at that point. Shortly after his trip to New Orleans, Williams told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he’d prefer to re-sign with the Seahawks, but the defending NFC champions didn’t seem to share his interest. In New Orleans, Williams will see a familiar face across the line in practice, as center Max Unger has also made the move from the Seahawks to the Saints this offseason.
While Williams isn’t the same dominant defensive force that he was from 2004 to 2009, when he earned five All-Pro nods for the Vikings, he can still be a productive player. In 2014, the former first-round pick ranked in the middle of the pack among defensive tackles, according to Pro Football Focus’ data (subscription required). PFF’s grades placed Williams 40th out of 81 qualified DTs, as he finished the season with 38 tackles and three sacks.