Halo

Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune spoke with Antoine Winfield’s agent, Ashanti Webb, a few weeks back and learned that Webb feels his client would be a good fit in New Orleans.

The numbers tell the same story.

According to Pro Football Focus, Porter ranked No. 102 in the NFL among cornerbacks that played at least 25 percent of their teams’ snaps in coverage. Porter was in coverage for eight snaps for every reception he allowed. Winfield ranked No. 52 allowing a reception for every 10.2 coverage snaps.

While that’s a huge difference, it’s not the mammoth statistical reason why Winfield’s more attractive than Porter.

When it comes to run stop percentage, a Pro Football Focus statistic that tackles on passing plays that go for a loss, no cornerback in the NFL last season had a better stop percentage that Winfield. Porter ranked 49th.

Anyone that watched a New Orleans game last season saw that tackling was as lost an art to the Saints as Hieroglyphics. Wouldn’t it be a better option to grab a cornerback that’s a top-notch tackler and a better cover corner?

Asomugha is still the sure-fire best option for the Saints, who need tons of help in their secondary. But if the Saints fail to nab him, Winfield should be “Plan B.”

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