New Orleans Saints Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Ben Watson Only Considered Patriots, Saints

May 25th, 2019 at 4:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

It appears of the teams interested in helping Ben Watson unretire, one had a substantial lead on the others. Although the 38-year-old tight end was linked to the Chiefs, Bills and 49ers, he was only considering a return if two teams were in the mix.

“I was retired. I was done for a few months,” Watson said, via Nick Goss of NBC Sports Boston. “Around I would say, late April, early May I started thinking about it and made myself available. There were really only two places I would consider playing, coming back (to the Patriots) and playing in New Orleans. Once I made myself available I got a call, and I thought it would be an interesting opportunity.”

The Patriots and Saints were Watson’s two most prominent stops during his 15-season run, the former drafting him in the 2004 first round and deploying him for six seasons. The latter featured him frequently before and after the Jimmy Graham trade. New Orleans, though, was not in the mix for Watson. The Saints shelled out some cash to sign Jared Cook, who was coming off his most statistically productive season.

New England lost this generation’s best tight end, but Watson did not factor Rob Gronkowski‘s status into his decision. Though, it’s certainly debatable if the Pats would have been interested had Gronk not informed them he was retiring. That may have forced Watson to consider one of the aforementioned destinations.

“No, I was retired. I considered myself retired,” Watson said about viewing Gronkowski’s retirement as a reason to come back. “I was processing as such and moving forward as such until late in April. (Gronkowski’s exit) wasn’t a factor for me.”

Should the Patriots stand pat with Watson and Austin Seferian-Jenkins at tight end, their 2019 offense stands to look different than their other nine attacks this decade. Most of those, when Gronkowski was healthy, funneled through the future Hall of Famer. This year’s Pats feature bigger names or higher-end investments at receiver, with Demaryius Thomas (should he surmount the Achilles injury that ended his 2018 season) and N’Keal Harry now joining Julian Edelman.

Watson, 39 in December, signed for $3MM ($600K guaranteed). Seferian-Jenkins only received $895K and $50K guaranteed.

Saints Work Out RBs

May 23rd, 2019 at 3:58pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints worked out some running backs on Thursday, including Fozzy Whittaker, Robert Kelley, and Buck Allen (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune). All three vets are looking for a spot on the roster to backup top rushers Alvin Kamara and Lavavius Murray.

Whittaker, 30, has spent the last five years with the Panthers, but lost his 2018 season to a torn ACL. For the most part, he was used as a reserve option and a third-down running back. He saw the most usage of his career in 2016 when he carried the ball 57 times and averaged an impressive 4.6 yards per try in that limited sample. In 2017, however, he had just seven carries in 12 games.

Kelley only suited up for two games with the Redskins last year thanks to a toe injury. Kelley averaged 4.2 yards per carry as a rookie in 2016, but has been unable to replicate that production.

Allen, meanwhile, saw time in 14 games for the Ravens last year, but averaged just 2.7 yards per rushing attempt. The former fourth-round pick had some moments early on in his career – including his 12 catches for 107 receiving yards against the Dolphins in 2015 – but has never topped the 4.0 YPC mark in any of his four NFL seasons.

Patriots, Falcons, Saints Interested In Gerald McCoy

May 23rd, 2019 at 10:10am CST by Zachary Links

Free agent Gerald McCoy has at least six suitors in pursuit. The Falcons, Patriots, and Saints have shown a level of interest in McCoy since his release from the Buccaneers, according to ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine (on Twitter). As previously reported, the Bengals, Colts, and Browns are also looking into the defensive tackle.

The Falcons have little in the way of cap space, so they’d have to get creative if they want to sign McCoy. But, after seeing his best work up close for nine seasons, they’re obviously motivated to find a way to make it work.

The Patriots would give McCoy an opportunity to win while pairing with Michael Bennett on the Patriots’ defensive line. The Pats haven’t had a versatile and dominant interior lineman of McCoy’s caliber since the retirement of Vince Wilfork, so he would fill a long-standing need for them.

Meanwhile, Saints quarterback Drew Brees is lobbying hard for McCoy to come to New Orleans.

“He’s a stud, he’s a great player,” Brees said this week. “I mean you’re basically asking me if I would love having a Pro Bowl defensive tackle that I’ve spent the last eight years trying to run around and avoid, not have hit me, join our team. Yeah, of course.”

But, like the Patriots and Falcons, the Saints are working with limited cap room.

Saints Host S Brynden Trawick

May 22nd, 2019 at 8:44pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints met with free agent defensive back/special teamer Brynden Trawick on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

An undrafted free agent out of Troy in 2013, the 29-year-old Trawick is essentially a pure special teamer. He’s played only 194 defensive snaps during his six-year career, and just four over the past two seasons. On special teams, though, Trawick is especially valuable, managing at least 300 ST snaps in each of the past five campaigns.

Last year, Trawick saw action on 342 special teams plays (good for top-35 in the NFL) and posted eight tackles. He earned a 2017 Pro Bowl nod as a special teamer as a member of the Titans, with whom he just finished a two-year, $4.75MM contract.

New Orleans hired a new special teams coach this offseason in former Dolphins associate head coach Darren Rizzi. The Saints, which ranked ninth in Football Outsiders’ special teams DVOA a season ago, already roster several players who are nearly exclusively special teamers, including defensive backs Chris Banjo, Justin Hardee, and Josh Robinson, and linebackers Craig Robertson and Vince Biegel.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/22/19

May 22nd, 2019 at 7:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Waived: WR Malachi Dupre

Buffalo Bills

Claimed off waivers: T De’Ondre Wesley
Signed: TE Mik’Quan Deane
Waived: T Blake Hance, S Abraham Wallace

Cincinnati Bengals

Signed: T Justin Evans
Waived: TE Andrew Vollert

Kansas City Chiefs

Re-signed: DB Dakari Monroe

Los Angeles Rams

Waived: T Justice Powers

New Orleans Saints

Waived: LB Darrell Williams

Philadelphia Eagles

Signed: T Casey Tucker

Saints Sign Ryan Groy, Release Derek Newton

May 22nd, 2019 at 3:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints signed center Ryan Groy and safety Terrell Williams, according to a team announcement. In related moves, the club released guard Mike Herndon wide receiver Micah Wright, and tackle Derek Newton.

Groy, 29 in September, spent the last four years with the Bills and made 14 starts over the last three seasons. The Bills kept him from joining the Rams by matching his offer sheet a couple of years ago, but they did not make a strong push to retain him this time around.

Newton, meanwhile, is being bumped to make room for new arrival Marshall Newhouse. The longtime starter for the Texans hasn’t been the same since he tore both patellar tendons in a 2016 game against the Broncos. He tried to rekindle his career with the Saints, but he leaves the team after suiting up for just one game.

Saints To Sign Marshall Newhouse

May 22nd, 2019 at 2:42pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are set to sign offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM (on Twitter). Newhouse auditioned alongside fellow tackle Adam Bisnowaty and center/guard Ryan Groy on Tuesday and made a strong impression on the team. Caplan adds that the Saints could still sign one more offensive lineman, so the door could still be open for Bisnowaty or Groy in New Orleans.

The Bills shipped Newhouse to the Panthers in September for a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick. He went on to appear in eleven games for the Saints, but started in only two of those contests. That marked a big change from 2017, when he started in all 14 of his contests for the Raiders. Over the course of his eight-year career, Newhouse has started in 72 games for the Packers, Bengals, Giants, Raiders, Bills, and Panthers.

The Saints project to start Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk at the tackle spots with support from veteran Jermon Bushrod. Newhouse probably has decent odds to make the cut following Wednesday’s release of Derek Newton.

Saints Sign DE Wes Horton

May 21st, 2019 at 6:57pm CST by Ben Levine

Wes Horton has found a new home. The veteran defensive end has signed with the Saints, reports ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).

The former undrafted free agent out of USC had spent his entire six-year career with the Panthers. After starting 27 games through his first four years in the NFL, Horton transitioned to more of a backup role in 2017 and 2018. This past season, the 29-year-old compiled 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 16 games. Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance, as they ranked Horton 102nd among 103 edge defenders.

In New Orleans, Horton will be joining a talented defensive end corps that includes All-Pro Cameron Jordan, All-Rookie Marcus Davenport, and free agent addition Mario Edwards Jr.. Horton will likely be competing with the likes of Trey Hendrickson for reserve snaps.