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Saints Sign TE Foster Moreau

May 10th, 2023 at 10:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Foster Moreau‘s Saints visit revealed a concerning health matter for the tight end, but barely a month after his cancer diagnosis, the veteran tight end looks set to resume his career. He is signing with the Saints, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

The Saints are giving Moreau a three-year, $12MM deal, per Fowler, who adds the contract also includes $3MM in incentives. This represents a remarkable comeback for the former Raiders tight end, whose career encountered a brief hiatus after the Hodgkin’s lymphoma discovery earlier this year. The deal includes $8MM fully guaranteed, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter adds (on Twitter).

Moreau’s trip to New Orleans for a free agency meeting in March led to the Hodgkin’s lymphoma finding — revealed during a routine physical — and the four-year veteran stepped away from football as a result. Last month, Moreau said the cancer had spread from its initial location but still indicated positive momentum. Given the timeframe between Moreau’s cancer discovery and this agreement, this marks a stunning turnaround for the former fourth-round pick.

Moreau, who turned 26 last week, has indeed received clearance and expects to play in 2023, Schefter tweets. He is still receiving treatment, according to NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill, who adds the free agency addition will be brought along slowly. But Moreau received a positive diagnosis and is not expected to have limitations upon return (Twitter link).

This will present a homecoming for Moreau, a New Orleans native who caught teams’ attention while playing at LSU, and a reunion with Derek Carr. In between Moreau’s cancer being found and this signing, the Saints traded former third-round pick Adam Trautman to the Broncos. The fourth-year veteran had requested the move. Moreau will join the recently extended Juwan Johnson in the Saints’ tight end room.

Darren Waller served as the Raiders’ starting tight end throughout Moreau’s time with the team, but the younger pass catcher became needed as Waller injuries piled up over the past two seasons. Moreau combined to catch 63 passes for 793 yards and five touchdowns over the past two seasons, stepping in as Waller missed extensive time in that span. Moreau made 34 starts during his Raiders tenure. Pro Football Focus also graded Moreau as a top-15 pass blocker — among tight ends — last season.

Also meeting with the Bengals before his cancer became known, Moreau will join a Saints team that is largely running it back at the pass-catching positions. The team re-signed Michael Thomas and extended Johnson. New Orleans still rosters Tre’Quan Smith and returns Rashid Shaheed as a Chris Olave complement. The team drafted wideout A.T. Perry with the pick obtained in the Trautman deal and signed ex-Raiders receiver Bryan Edwards. This Moreau signing, however, represents the team’s biggest outside addition at a pass-catching spot this offseason.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/2/23

May 2nd, 2023 at 4:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

New Orleans Saints

The Colts added Evans, a former Titans third-round pick, earlier this offseason. The team still has Zack Moss and Deon Jackson on its roster behind Jonathan Taylor; Indianapolis also drafted Evan Hull in the fifth round. Gillespie, who was briefly with the Titans last summer, is only a Colts agreement away from the AFC South cycle.

Luton spent last season with the Saints, residing both on their practice squad and active roster. A former sixth-round pick, the Oregon State product’s last game action came with the Jaguars in 2020. Gore gained 256 rushing yards for the Chiefs in 2021; he joined Luton on the Saints’ P-squad for the second half of last season. The Saints have since signed Jamaal Williams and used a third-round pick on TCU’s Kendre Miller. Veteran special-teamer Dwayne Washington and Eno Benjamin also reside on New Orleans’ roster.

Flowers, a 6-foot-2 receiver out of Montana, joins the team’s UDFA class. The Division I-FCS product holds the Big Sky conference record for kick-return yards, averaging 28.9 per return. Flowers finished his college career with an eye-popping seven kick-return touchdowns. The seven TDs match current Saint wideout Rashid Shaheed‘s FCS record.

TE Adam Trautman Requested Trade From Saints

May 2nd, 2023 at 10:30am CST by Adam La Rose

Much has been made about the D’Andre Swift trade which took place over the weekend, but another notable swap happened during the draft. New Orleans dealt tight end Adam Trautman to the Broncos, allowing him to play out his contract year in a new offense. The motivation for the trade was player-driven.

“Oh yeah, absolutely,” Trautman said, via 9News’ Mike Klis, when asked if he was satisfied with being traded away from the Saints. “I was actually hoping to get moved. This was initiated by me personally. I’ve been waiting for a little bit for something to materialize and it just happened to be the Broncos, obviously.”

ESPN’s Katherine Terrell confirms that Trautman first asked to be dealt in February, and that Denver emerged as an interested suitor (Twitter link). That comes as no surprise, given the presence of former Saints head coach Sean Payton on the sidelines in Denver. In his new home, the former third-rounder will look to operate in more of a pass-catching role than he has over the past three years.

“I feel like I was placed somewhat in a box [in New Orleans]” Trautman added. “They put a limit on what I could contribute and I felt like I could contribute a lot more. I was primarily used as a blocker. I thought I could do more and I didn’t want to get to the end of my career and think I could have done it, caught the ball a little more.”

Trautman, 26, started 28 of the 43 contests he played in with the Saints, seeing considerable playing time in the past two seasons in particular. Still, he managed just 470 yards and three touchdowns during that span. New Orleans made converted receiver Juwan Johnson a higher priority by re-signing him, which paved the way for Trautman to be included in a trade ahead of his walk year. Another factor on that front was his willingness to re-work his contract and lower his 2023 base salary, albeit in a way in which incentives could allow him to earn much of it back (Twitter link via Klis).

The latter had a highly productive career at Dayton, totaling 171 receptions, 2,295 yards and 31 touchdowns across four years. He will look to once again showcase his pass-catching skills in Denver, though 2022 third-rounder Greg Dulcich will represent stiff competition for a starting role. How much Trautman can translate his new opportunity into success will go a long way in determining his market value as a free agent next offseason.

2024 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker

May 1st, 2023 at 9:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

NFL teams have until May 2 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2020 first-rounders who are entering the final year of their rookie deals. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of the player’s position, initial draft placement and performance- and usage-based benchmarks:

  • Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternate Pro Bowlers) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag.
  • One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag.
  • Players who achieve any of the following will get the average of the third-20th highest salaries at their position:
    • At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
    • A 75% snap average across all three seasons
    • At least 50% in each of first three seasons
  • Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position.

With the deadline looming, we’ll use the space below to track all the option decisions from around the league:

  1. QB Joe Burrow, Bengals ($29.5MM): Exercised
  2. DE Chase Young, Commanders ($17.45MM): Declined
  3. CB Jeff Okudah, Falcons* ($11.51MM): N/A
  4. T Andrew Thomas, Giants ($14.18MM): Exercised
  5. QB Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins ($23.2MM): Exercised
  6. QB Justin Herbert, Chargers ($29.5MM): Exercised
  7. DT Derrick Brown, Panthers ($11.67MM): Exercised 
  8. LB Isaiah Simmons, Cardinals ($12.72MM): Declined
  9. CB C.J. Henderson, Jaguars** ($11.51MM): Declined
  10. T Jedrick Wills, Browns ($14.18MM): Exercised
  11. T Mekhi Becton, Jets ($12.57MM): Declined
  12. WR Henry Ruggs, Raiders: N/A
  13. T Tristan Wirfs, Buccaneers ($18.24MM): Exercised
  14. DT Javon Kinlaw, 49ers ($10.46MM): Declined
  15. WR Jerry Jeudy, Broncos ($14.12MM): Exercised
  16. CB AJ Terrell, Falcons ($12.34MM): Exercised
  17. WR CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys ($17.99MM): Exercised
  18. OL Austin Jackson, Dolphins ($14.18MM): Declined
  19. CB Damon Arnette, Raiders: N/A
  20. DE K’Lavon Chaisson, Jaguars ($12.14MM): Declined
  21. WR Jalen Reagor, Vikings*** ($12.99MM): To decline
  22. WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings ($19.74MM): Exercised
  23. LB Kenneth Murray, Chargers ($11.73MM): Declined
  24. G Cesar Ruiz, Saints ($14.18MM): Declined
  25. WR Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers ($14.12MM): Exercised
  26. QB Jordan Love, Packers ($20.27MM): Extended through 2024
  27. LB Jordyn Brooks, Seahawks ($12.72MM): Declined
  28. LB Patrick Queen, Ravens ($12.72MM): Declined
  29. T Isaiah Wilson, Titans: N/A
  30. CB Noah Igbinoghene, Dolphins ($11.51MM): Declined
  31. CB Jeff Gladney, Vikings: N/A
  32. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs ($5.46MM): To decline

* = Lions traded Okudah on April 11, 2023
** = Jaguars traded Henderson on Sept. 27, 2021
*** = Eagles traded Reagor on August 31, 2022

Saints Decline Cesar Ruiz’s Fifth-Year Option

May 1st, 2023 at 3:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

While not a Pro Bowler, Cesar Ruiz has been a starter for most of his Saints career. That places the fourth-year guard on the third tier of the CBA’s fifth-year option structure. As a result, the Saints are passing on Ruiz’s 2024 option, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Had New Orleans followed through with the option pickup, Ruiz would have made $14.18MM in 2024. The NFL’s franchise and transition tag formula is used to calculate options, and it still places all offensive linemen under one umbrella. With tackle contracts inflating this price annually, interior O-linemen’s fifth-year options become more onerous — seeing as the 2020 CBA made them fully guaranteed — for teams.

The Saints passing on Ruiz’s option does not mean this partnership will end after four seasons, but the Michigan alum is now set for a contract year. Ruiz will earn $2.34MM in base salary this season and is tied to a cap number just north of $4MM. The Saints are positioned rely on the former No. 24 overall pick as their right guard again in 2023.

Primarily a center with the Wolverines, Ruiz has played guard as a pro. Erik McCoy‘s center entrenchment slid Ruiz to guard as a rookie, and despite not having played the position since his freshman year of college, Ruiz has started 40 games for the Saints. Pro Football Focus has not viewed Ruiz as an upper-echelon guard in any of his three seasons, slotting him just outside the top 50 at the position from 2020-22, and the 6-foot-4 blocker is coming off an injury-shortened season. A foot injury ended Ruiz’s 2022 slate after 14 games.

Ruiz, 23, played every snap for the Saints in 2021 and logged a 100% snap rate in the 14 games before being shut down last season. The Saints have McCoy, left guard Andrus Peat and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk signed to long-term extensions. The team has continued to make big investments in its O-line, drafting left tackle Trevor Penning in last year’s first round. Assuming Penning becomes a full-time starter in his second season, he makes it five homegrown first- or second-round picks comprising New Orleans’ O-line.

With a 2024 franchise tag not realistic for Ruiz, the Saints will have a decision to make on him before next year’s legal tampering period begins in March. The team did trade up to No. 103 to start Saturday’s fourth round, selecting Old Dominion O-lineman Nick Saldiveri. While Saldiveri worked as Old Dominion’s primary right tackle in recent years, he repped as an interior blocker at the Senior Bowl.

Saints Announce 11-Man UDFA Class

April 30th, 2023 at 12:39pm CST by Rory Parks

The Saints have announced an 11-man UDFA class after drafting seven players over the course of the last three days. Here are the undrafted talents who will begin their pursuit of an NFL job with New Orleans:

Two of the above players, Davis and Orji, received guarantees in excess of $200K, as Greg Auman of FOX Sports tweets.

Davis has the size (6-5, 217 lbs.) and length that could allow him to find success in the pros, and he showed off serious big-play ability at the collegiate level, averaging roughly 20.4 yards per catch over four years at South Carolina State. That included 45 catches for 934 yards and 11 TDs in 2022.

That production, however, came against FCS competition. While the size of Davis’ guarantee indicates he was a priority signing, there are elements of his game — like his issue with drops — that he will need to clean up in order to have a shot at cracking the roster.

Orji, meanwhile, was a three-year starter for the SEC’s Commodores, as well as a team captain. Despite averaging nearly 100 total tackles and 10 tackles for loss over the past two seasons, he also missed a lot of tackles and does not have the speed that would make him an elite defender in today’s NFL. Still, there was a chance that he would hear his name called on Day 3 of the draft, and he should have a decent chance of sticking as a backup defender or special teamer.

2023 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team

April 29th, 2023 at 10:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway, we will keep track of each team’s haul here:

Arizona Cardinals

Round 1, No. 6 (from Rams through Lions): Paris Johnson, OT (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 2, No. 41 (from Titans): BJ Ojulari, DE (LSU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 72 (from Titans): Garrett Williams, CB (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 94 (from Eagles): Michael Wilson, WR (Stanford) (signed)
Round 4, No. 122 (from Dolphins through Chiefs and Lions): Jon Gaines II, G (UCLA) (signed)
Round 5, No. 139 (from Broncos through Lions): Clayton Tune, QB (Houston) (signed)
Round 5, No. 168 (from Cardinals through Lions): Owen Pappoe, LB (Auburn) (signed)
Round 5, No. 180: Kei’Trel Clark, CB (Louisville) (signed)
Round 6, No. 213: Dante Stills, DT (West Virginia) (signed)

Atlanta Falcons

Round 1, No. 8: Bijan Robinson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 2, No. 38 (from Colts): Matthew Bergeron, T (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 75: Zach Harrison, DE (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 4, No. 113: Clark Phillips III, CB (Utah) (signed)
Round 7, No. 224 (from Raiders): DeMarcco Hellams, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 7, No. 225: Jovaughn Gwyn, G (South Carolina) (signed)

Baltimore Ravens

Round 1, No. 22: Zay Flowers, WR (Boston College) (signed)
Round 3, No. 86: Trenton Simpson, LB (Clemson) (signed)
Round 4, No. 124: Tavius Robinson, LB (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 5, No. 157: Kyu Blu Kelly, CB (Stanford) (signed)
Round 6, No. 199: Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT (Oregon) (signed)
Round 7, No. 229 (from Browns): Andrew Vorhees, G (USC) (signed)

Buffalo Bills

Round 1, No. 25 (from Giants through Jaguars): Dalton Kincaid, TE (Utah) (signed)
Round 2, No. 59: O’Cyrus Torrence, G (Florida) (signed)
Round 3, No, 91: Dorian Williams, LB (Tulane) (signed)
Round 5, No. 150 (from Commanders): Justin Shorter, WR (Florida) (signed)
Round 7, No. 230 (from Buccaneers through Jets, Texans, Eagles and Bills): Nick Broeker, G (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 7, No. 252 (from Buccaneers through Rams): Alex Austin, CB (Oregon State) (signed)

Carolina Panthers

Round 1, No. 1 (from Bears): Bryce Young, QB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 2, No. 39: Jonathan Mingo, WR (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 3, No. 80 (from Steelers): D.J. Johnson, DE (Oregon) (signed)
Round 4, No. 114: Chandler Zavala, G (North Carolina State) (signed)
Round 5, No. 145: Jammie Robinson, S (Florida State) (signed)

Chicago Bears

Round 1, No. 10 (from Saints through Eagles): Darnell Wright, OT (Tennessee) (signed)
Round 2, No. 53 (from Ravens): Gervon Dexter, DT (Florida) (signed)
Round 2, No. 56 (from Jaguars): Tyrique Stevenson, CB (Miami) (signed)
Round 3, No. 64: Zacch Pickens, DT (South Carolina) (signed)
Round 4, No. 115 (from Saints): Roschon Johnson, RB (Texas) (signed)
Round 4, No. 133 (from Eagles): Tyler Scott, WR (Cincinnati) (signed)
Round 5, No. 148 (from Patriots through Ravens): Noah Sewell, LB (Oregon) (signed)
Round 5, No. 165 (from Saints through Eagles): Terell Smith, CB (Minnesota) (signed)
Round 7, No. 218: Travis Bell, DT (Kennesaw State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 258: Kendall Williamson, S (Stanford) (signed)

Cincinnati Bengals

Round 1, No. 28: Myles Murphy, DE (Clemson) (signed)
Round 2, No. 60: DJ Turner, CB (Michigan) (signed)
Round 3, No. 95 (from Chiefs): Jordan Battle, S (Alabama) (signed)
Round 4, No. 131: Charlie Jones, WR (Purdue) (signed)
Round 5, No. 163: Chase Brown, RB (Illinois) (signed)
Round 6, No. 206: Andrei Iosivas, WR (Princeton) (signed)
Round 6, No. 217 (from Chiefs): Brad Robbins, P (Michigan) (signed)
Round 7, No. 246: DJ Ivey, CB (Miami) (signed)

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Saints Trade TE Adam Trautman To Broncos

April 29th, 2023 at 3:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sean Payton will pick up another former Saint. The new Broncos HC is trading for tight end Adam Trautman, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

This is a pick-swap deal. New Orleans will collect Denver’s No. 195 overall pick in this trade, while NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds (on Twitter) the Broncos will receive No. 257 from the Saints. With the sixth-rounder, the Saints chose wide receiver A.T. Perry out of Wake Forest.

Trautman, for whom the Saints traded four draft picks to draft 105th overall in 2020, is going into a contract year. Despite the Saints trading four Day 3 picks to move into the 2020 third round for Trautman, he has not yet put it together as a pro. The Saints gave converted receiver Juwan Johnson an extension this offseason, prioritizing the ascending pass catcher as their top tight end. Weeks later, Trautman will follow his old coach to Colorado.

A former Dayton prospect, Trautman posted his best receiving numbers in 2021 (27 catches, 263 yards, two touchdowns). But the Saints had both Johnson and veteran gadget cog Taysom Hill in the mix at tight end. Trautman still played a healthy snap share in 2021 (76%) and logged 521 snaps (57%) in his New Orleans finale campaign. Pro Football Focus rated Trautman as an above-average run blocker as well.

Denver’s tight end room centers around 2022 third-round pick Greg Dulcich. While an injury delayed the UCLA product’s debut, he showed promise in the passing game despite beginning his career during the dysfunctional Nathaniel Hackett-Russell Wilson partnership. The Broncos signed Chris Manhertz this offseason, but he is onboard due mostly to his blocking pedigree. Albert Okwuegbunam remains on Denver’s roster, but the 2022 trade candidate fell out of favor with the team last season. Okwuegbunam is going into a contract year but will certainly not be assured of a roster spot on Payton’s first team.

Saints Acquire No. 127, Select QB Jake Haener

April 29th, 2023 at 12:13pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints are giving up a future draft pick to get into the fourth round. New Orleans has acquired pick No. 127 from Jacksonville. In exchange, the Jaguars have acquired pick No. 227 and a 2024 fourth-round pick.

The Saints will be using their selection on quarterback Jake Haener. The Fresno State product was widely considered to be atop the remaining tier of QBs, generally ranking sixth in his draft class.

While he won’t have the draft stock of the QBs selected before him, Haener can keep up with his upside. He didn’t play in a Power 5 conference and has generally been viewed unfavorably from a physical perspective, but he’s been lauded for his ability to control the game from under center.

Haener truly had a breakout campaign in 2021, when he finished with 33 touchdowns vs. only nine interceptions. He followed that up with a 2022 campaign where he connected on 72 percent of his passes for 2,896 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only three picks. He also earned the 2023 Senior Bowl MVP after the season.

The Saints made a move for Derek Carr this offseason and seem fully committed to their acquisition. The team also kept mainstay Jameis Winston, meaning Haener will likely spend his rookie campaign as the third quarterback on the depth chart.

Saints Trade Up For No. 103

April 29th, 2023 at 10:27am CST by Ben Levine

The Saints will now be picking first on the third day of the NFL Draft. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that New Orleans has acquired the No. 103 pick from the Bears.

Chicago will be receiving picks No. 115 and No. 165, per Pelissero (on Twitter). As our Team-by-Team 2023 NFL Draft Results show, the Bears will now have five picks today while the Saints will have four selections.

With the pick, the Saints are taking Old Dominion offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri. The Saints still have their five 2022 O-line starters under contract, with starter-turned-swingman James Hurst also still rostered. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. rated Saldiveri as its No. 116 overall prospect; this selection gibes with that assessment.

While Hurst is a former free agent signing, Saldiveri gives the Saints six homegrown O-linemen drafted in the first four rounds. The Bears will pick up an additional fifth-round pick for moving down.

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