The Saints have re-signed defensive back Ugo Amadi to a one-year deal, per a team announcement.
Amadi spent the last two seasons in New Orleans, primarily playing special teams in 2023 before emerging as a starting slot corner midway through the 2024 season. He finished the year with five starts and 527 snaps on defense, both his most since 2021. His 65 tackles, 2.0 sacks, and six tackles for loss all represented career-highs.
The seven-year veteran will enter the 2025 season in pole position to continue as the Saints’ starting nickel. He took over the role in Week 8 when Alontae Taylor moved outside to replace an injured Paulson Adebo. Now that Adebo has signed with the Giants, Taylor is a candidate to continue starting on the boundary with Amadi staying in the slot.
The Saints did sign veteran corner Isaac Yiadom to a three-year deal, so he could compete for a starting job on the outside and potentially push Taylor back into the slot. In that case, Amadi would likely provide depth across the Saints’ secondary as a backup nickel and rotational safety, his listed position on the team website.
Amadi was originally drafted by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He appeared in 47 games with 12 starts across his first three years in Seattle before being traded to the Eagles during training camp in 2022. He was then dealt to the Titans less than two weeks later and played in two regular season games before being waived. He spent the rest of the season on the Chiefs’ practice squad and finished with a Super Bowl victory.
