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Keenan Lewis makes a heckuva first impression.

The first time the media got a look at the New Orleans Saints' new free-agent cornerback during spring organized team activities, Lewis jumped the first route during team drills and batted a ball away from receiver Lance Moore. Later that same day, he intercepted a bobbled pass.

Then last week, on the first day in front of the fans at training camp, Lewis again flashed on the first pass of team drills -- intercepting an underthrown deep ball by Drew Brees during a "free play" because of an offsides penalty.

"He immediately showed up on film," safety Malcolm Jenkins said. "I think it was the first OTA we had, he jumped an out route and almost picked it off. And he's been playing hard ever since.

"I know he'll make some plays for us this year."

It didn't even take that long for Lewis to make new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan fall in love with him this spring.

On the day after Lewis signed a five-year, $26.3 million contract to leave the Pittsburgh Steelers and return to his hometown of New Orleans, Ryan said he looked out his window. And there was Lewis with the cones, working out individually on the Saints' practice field.

"I'm so excited about Keenan Lewis -- everything about him since the day we signed him," Ryan said this week. "He's got so much ability. The sky is the limit for this guy. He's going to be fantastic for us. We're so excited about him. He's smart, he's tough, he's long. And he's a local hero (from O.P. Walker High School). You've got to love this guy.

"In my opinion, I honestly feel we got the best free agent out there on defense."

Read more: Rob Ryan says New Orleans Saints got the 'best free agent out there' in Keenan Lewis | NOLA.com

ChrisXVI

This guy is going to be fantastic. Adding Lewis and Vacarro instantly makes our secondary damn good!

SmashMouth

Rob Ryan has never been shy about talking up his players, and he hasn’t stopped in his new job.

Ryan, the first-year defensive coordinator of the Saints, says that when New Orleans signed cornerback Keenan Lewis away from Pittsburgh, they got the best defensive free agent in the entire league this year.

“I’m so excited about Keenan Lewis — everything about him since the day we signed him,” Ryan said, via the Times-Picayune. “He’s got so much ability. The sky is the limit for this guy. He’s going to be fantastic for us. We’re so excited about him. He’s smart, he’s tough, he’s long. And he’s a local hero. You’ve got to love this guy. In my opinion, I honestly feel we got the best free agent out there on defense.”

We had Lewis as the No. 41 player in our free agent rankings, so we’re not quite as high on him as Ryan is, but Lewis will surely make a difference in the Saints’ secondary this season. And on a Saints team that desperately needs to get better on defense, he really is one of the most important defensive free agents in the league. That’s not just Ryan bluster.
Rob Ryan: Keenan Lewis was the NFL’s best defensive free agent | ProFootballTalk

WhoDat!656

Rob Ryan has never been shy about talking up his players, and he hasn’t stopped in his new job.

Ryan, the first-year defensive coordinator of the Saints, says that when New Orleans signed cornerback Keenan Lewis away from Pittsburgh, they got the best defensive free agent in the entire league this year.

“I’m so excited about Keenan Lewis — everything about him since the day we signed him,” Ryan said, via the Times-Picayune. “He’s got so much ability. The sky is the limit for this guy. He’s going to be fantastic for us. We’re so excited about him. He’s smart, he’s tough, he’s long. And he’s a local hero. You’ve got to love this guy. In my opinion, I honestly feel we got the best free agent out there on defense.”

We had Lewis as the No. 41 player in our free agent rankings, so we’re not quite as high on him as Ryan is, but Lewis will surely make a difference in the Saints’ secondary this season. And on a Saints team that desperately needs to get better on defense, he really is one of the most important defensive free agents in the league. That’s not just Ryan bluster.

Rob Ryan: Keenan Lewis was the NFL’s best defensive free agent | ProFootballTalk

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

homerj07

Better is good.

Luda34

Well he's pretty high on Mr. Lewis I hope he's not another Jason David that plays zone or nickel defense and then come to the Saints and get burnt.

dizzle88

Finally we have a tall, physical corner that can make plays when the balls in the air, can't wait to see him play

FinSaint

He has great potential to be a huge fan favorite in the black and gold.

Can you imagine if White could really step up his development and become a #2 CB behind Lewis in 2014?! That would be two 6-1 and 200+ lbs starting corners for the Saints in man coverage...