Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Right tackle Zach Strief agrees to re-sign with #saints for 5 years, team announces

rvargas@theadvocate.com

After spending almost a week as an unrestricted free agent, right tackle Zach Strief has agreed to re-sign with the Saints, for whom he’s played his entire eight-year career, the team announced Monday.

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Strief did not visit any other teams prior to agreeing to a new deal with New Orleans, which is for five years. Terms were not immediately disclosed.

Strief has all along wanted to remain with the Saints, and the team hoped to keep him, according to his agent, Ralph Cindrich. But New Orleans was “not in a position to make an offer” as free agency began on Tuesday, Cindrich has said.

The Saints’ front office has since been able to change that. Aside from re-signing Strief, they’ve extended running back Pierre Thomas’ contract by two years, successfully pursued marquee free-agent safety Jairus Byrd and traded running back Darren Sproles to Philadelphia for a draft pick, among other decisions.

New Orleans will feel that it can scratch off one of the top items on its to-do list this offseason after re-signing Strief. He was one of the Saints’ offensive captains, and he was one of their top locker-room leaders. A seventh round draft pick for New Orleans in 2006, he’s started 42 games for the Black and Gold, including the playoffs. Head coach Sean Payton inserted him into the starting lineup three seasons ago, two campaigns after the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV.

With Strief as a starter, the Saints have gone to the divisional round of the playoffs twice and won the NFC South once.

The website Pro Football Focus gave him and future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees the highest overall ratings for Saints players in 2013.

After surrendering just three sacks and four quarterback hits on one of the most pass-heavy offenses in the NFL, Pro Football Focus also gave Strief the seventh highest rating among tackles in the league. He was the top performer on an offensive line that featured two guards — Ben Grubbs and Jahri Evans — that were selected to January’s Pro Bowl.

Strief earned a base salary of $2.23 million in 2013. At the end of the season, he expressed his desire to rejoin New Orleans for what he called his “last opportunity to sign a contract in this league.”

“Obviously, this organization has been a big part of my life,” Strief said in January. “I feel like I’ve been a part of the success here, and I don’t want to leave that.”

Zach Strief agrees to re-sign with the Saints for 5 years | Saints | The New Orleans Advocate

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Great News!

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

I know some are not but im very happy. We now have time to draft a good prospect to train him up to take the job or see if Harris is a option.

Only hole left now is at centre and it leaves 7 draft picks to fill onr position and take the best players.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

A 5-year deal at that. They like them some Strief. Solid RT.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Hopefully he can remain healthy ...

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

A+ grade for this off season

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Its probably more like a 3 year deal and we spread the cap hit over 5.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

I like it. Streif is a Sean Patyon system guy. I'll be his next two seasons are his best.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

agree- I doubt that Strief will be here in 2019 as a 36 year old

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

True dat.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

OH, and hat's off to yet another 7th round draft pick of Sean P's!

FYI - Streif was PFF's top graded right tackle in 2013

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

:(

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Wise decision by everyone involved. Welcome back big boy!

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

And you would have preferred.....?

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

I get an alert from NOLA.com, login here and it's already posted!
You guys rock!

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Rotoworld Football ‏@Rotoworld_FB · 49s
Saints retain RT Strief on 5-year, $20.5M tab NFL | Saints retain RT Strief on 5-year, $20.5M tab - Rotoworld.com

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Good grief thats cheap. Especially if its backloaded.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

$8mm guaranteed. Sounds like a two year deal.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

I reckon three with a reallt low cap hit year one.Small dead money after year two.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Average of $4.1ml on a more than solid RT.

Another hole filled pre draft.
I think we see movement on Graham now. The deals have been done so they can sort the cap figure for year one.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

A $5.5m signing bonus

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Seems like it'll be fairly affordable 3-year contract when all is said and done.

I don't mind Strief remaining with the team if they can improve the center position from the DLP level.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Im guessing a restructure or two in contracts will be happening when Graham inks the tag or new deal

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

awesome-
a team player taking a cap friendly salary
he did double up, so it's win-win

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

I'm happy. Maybe they're frontloading his money.
He wasn't really the problem I saw with our o-line last year, so this is good.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Now all we need is a mauler type center and we are set. Oh and fyi i love the thin cut catfish at new orleans hamburger and seafood company so i cant knock him on that.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

What we hear about door knocks, or free agency isn't a litmus test either. Good players get left out and over the hill big names get signed every year.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

On the contrary, teams knocked; he just didn't answer. Regardless of PFF, Streif has played solidly, saide from 2012* when he had a nagging groin injury. He played his best football last year and got paid like an average RT.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Michael Oher.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Piece from the Baltimore sun

Oher allowed a team-high eight sacks and 42 quarterback hurries this season, according to Pro Football Focus. He had just five penalties this season but is the most frequently penalized player in the NFL since entering the league. He was the last-ranked tackle in the league in run blocking last season, according to Pro Football Focus

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

But still thats not unheard of. QBs and OL are among the positions that can play the longest.

I'm happy we got the big guy back. He is solid and affordable. Its not always a great RT over a good RT will have bigger impact than a great TE compared to a good TE...

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

As was said earlier a nice mauling dirty in the trenches C and ill be a happy man.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

According to PFF.

I don't go by what PFF says.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Oher could be the most over-rated OT in the entire NFL.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Great signing only the guy from Miami Penn was a better FA. Armstead at left and Strief at right. That's a pretty good pair. Now for a great center.

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Thank you 8 pound 6 ounce baby Jesus. Now let's go get us a championship!

Oher is terrible. You have been on the Strief bashing bandwagon for some time IIRC, yet you would rather have Oher? LOL

Re: Saints re-sign Zach Strief
 

Oher is just a big name, his play doesn't equal up to the hype, never has since he got in the league.