Rating: (0 votes - average)

The first days of free agency can be a roller-coaster ride for NFL teams (and for their fans). This year has been no exception for the New Orleans Saints.


They took some big hits on the first day of free agency, losing Jermon Bushrod and Chase Daniel and causing a bit of anguish among their fans who don't have the stomach for the Saints' patient, measured approach to free agency. But Wednesday provided a little more reason for excitement and optimism.



The Saints showed that they indeed are intent in finding some new weapons for their defense. They have lined up visits with two of the top young cornerbacks on the free agent market in the Pittsburgh Steelers' Keenan Lewis and the Jacksonville Jaguars' Derek Cox. The New Orlean native Lewis, in particular, has been rated by many analysts as one of the better young talents available in this year's free agent class.

They have also reportedly shown interest in big-name free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (who once thrived under Saints coordinator Rob Ryan with the Oakland Raiders). Clearly they are intent on adding depth at cornerback, where they still believe that incumbents Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson are valuable assets but better fits in a three-man rotation.

And colleague Larry Holder learned from a source that the Saints were very aggressive in their attempts to sign top pass rusher Paul Kruger before he opted for a bigger pay day with the Cleveland Browns.

So the Saints are well aware of their need to upgrade their talent on defense. And they almost certainly will add one or two significant newcomers before all is said and done. There are still plenty of intriguing players available and some likely will come at a bargain rate as more time passes.

These last two days have fallen right in line with how the Saints usually do business in free agency. And though I have expressed serious concern about how they will handle the loss of Bushrod, it's hard to argue with the Saints' track record of success in recent years (a handful of major successes, a handful of minor misses, and very few big mistakes).

So stay tuned, Saints fans. The most thrilling parts of the roller-coaster ride are still to come.

Link Back

alleycat_126

Really good read..... It's nice to know that they tried to land Paul Kruger!!!! A big part of me thinks Nnamdi will land with us so I'm not buggin.... A Bushrod replacement is about to become paramount though...

Rugby Saint II

OT in the first round baby.

lee909

Who though?
We would have to move up at least 5 slots to get one.
I wouldnt want to give up this years 3rd to do that with so many holes needing filled.The Titans might be the best trade partner,especially if Williams wants Harper

saintsfan403

I still think we're going for an OLB in the first round. Maybe we can find another gem in the draft. They've done it before, I have faith that they can do it again.

nola_swammi

1st round going to be a shocker ,,I believe we're gonna draft a receiver if we can't trade down

Leighton B

DUDE Y'ALL REALLY HAVE NO IDEA A FIRST RD CORNER unless Trufant or Rhodes aren't there we can maybe get McFadden or Alford in 3rd rd But history tells us Ryan needs shutdown corners And we need 2 cause Greer's better in slot and I have no idea what to make of Robinson cause he looks great then he looks lost like he's in High School SO WE NEED CONSISTENT BUMP AND RUN BIG CORNERS IN RYAN'S DEFENSE SO GO GETEM SEAN, ROB , MICKEY!

WhoDat!656

New Orleans Saints lose out on CB Derek Cox as he agrees to terms with Chargers

New Orleans Saints lose out on CB Derek Cox as he agrees to terms with Chargers | NOLA.com

Rell&Gold

There wont be any OT's by the time we pick...1st rounders that is I still think we're going DEFENSE which makes the most sense

SaintsBro

THAT'S what I'm talking about. Just gotta white knuckle it out.

My unrealistic, juvenile, off-the-wall, homer-istic fantasy of trading Harper somewhere and getting Ed Reed in here, for a hometown discount and one crazy Darren Sharper-esque amazing year out of him, could STILL happen!!!!! Send the plane to pick up Ed, Tom!