Who would have guessed that the New Orleans Saints would end up being one of the bigger players in the latest waves of free agency? Given how slowly the Saints moved on from their ill-advised pursuit of Deshaun Watson and the twin departures of Marcus Williams and Terron Armstead, you’d be forgiven for keeping low expectations as we moved further into the offseason.
That narrative’s since gone up in smoke with the big-time additions of Tyrann Mathieu, Jarvis Landry, and some bold moves in the 2022 NFL draft. And New Orleans remains an attractive free agent destination to ESPN staff writer Matt Bowen, who picked the Saints as an ideal fit for defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh — his highest-ranked player still available. Suh racked up 43 quarterback pressures last season, per Pro Football Focus charting, which would have outpaced every single Saints defender not named Cameron Jordan. He’s a player with a nasty reputation in the NFL, but Suh only drew 4 penalty flags for 30 yards in 2021 (3 of them coming pre-snap for neutral zone infractions and an offsides foul).
So, sure, Suh would be a good get for New Orleans, even after turning 35 back in January. Here’s what Bowen had to say about the match:
“I originally considered matching the veteran defensive tackle back with the Buccaneers, but with Tampa Bay signing Akiem Hicks, we should expect Suh to land with another contender during camp. Suh had six sacks in 2021 and put some good tape out there in the postseason.
“I really like the idea of Suh playing in Dennis Allen’s defense. Even in a rotational role, Suh can still create disruption, command two in protection and get home to the quarterback in schemed fronts. He’d be effective in New Orleans with interior stunts and loops that create A-gap pressure and eliminate the quarterback’s ability to climb the pocket. And you need that when you see Tom Brady twice a season.”
Suh would add a lot to New Orleans’ interior rotation, giving the team a true starter next to David Onyemata that they haven’t enjoyed since Sheldon Rankins totaled 600-plus snaps back in 2018 (the 2016 first rounder was limited by injuries in 2019 and 2020 before leaving in free agency last year). Right now, Onyemata is standing head-and-shoulders above a group that includes backups like Shy Tuttle, Albert Huggins, and Malcolm Roach plus a couple of veteran-minimum signings in Kentavius Street and Jaleel Johnson, as well as a late-round draft pick in Air Force product Jordan Jackson. That collection of players shouldn’t be much of a hurdle to signing Suh.
And New Orleans does have the money to go get him. The Saints are under the salary cap by about $10.6 million, and they could get creative in signing a high-end player like Suh to keep his 2022 cap hit modest. Hicks going to Tampa Bay (ironically taking Suh’s roster spot in the process) provides a nice blueprint: he signed a one-year, $8 million deal largely made up of a $6.1 million signing bonus, with four void years spreading out the accounting and bring his immediate cap hit to just over $2.3 million. It’s a move right out of New Orleans’ own playbook, and it’s one they could use in going after Suh.
You’ve just got to wonder if the appetite is there. The Saints had opportunities to add a high-profile defensive tackle earlier in free agency and through the draft but went with budget-conscious moves instead. It’s very possible that they see the position as more of a tertiary need and expect the position coach Ryan Nielsen (recently promoted to co-defensive coordinator) to keep elevating talent in the group. Signing Suh to a one-year deal would mean he and Onyemata would both be headed for free agency in 2023, with a lot of dead money left behind should they not be re-signed. It’s risky, but that’s every day in the NFL. The Saints have shown us they have a plan and are willing to roll the dice a bit to accomplish it. Maybe Suh can factor into that vision, too.
