(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The New Orleans Saints had a solid defense in 2023, ranking in the top-ten in the NFL in points allowed and opponent passing yards per game, while also ranking fourth in total takeaways with 29.
Most of that defense will be returning in 2024, and even after adding Kool-Aid McKinstry in the second round of the draft, the Saints aren’t done bringing in more help in the secondary.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo announced that the Saints have signed former Detroit Lions corner Will Harris to a one-year deal after playing the last five years in Detroit.
Former #Lions DB Will Harris has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the #Saints, source says. Former third-round pick out of Boston College (cc: @TomPelissero) heads to New Orleans after five years in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/mKfo6DCNOz
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 1, 2024
Harris mostly served as depth in 2023 and posted a career-low 18 tackles in 17 games while seeing only 18 percent of the team’s defensive snaps after playing 66 percent and 89 percent the previous two years.
He exclusively played corner in 2023 for the first time after seeing time at both safety spots in his previous four years, while also seeing time as a hybrid linebacker in 2022.
Harris should also serve as a valuable special teams addition, where he played a career-high 65 percent of the snaps last year.
His path to playing time in New Orleans isn’t clear with the starters in the secondary so established, but he is a valuable depth piece who will add some thump to the special teams unit.
Star corner Marshon Lattimore has played only 17 games the past two seasons, so adding a little insurance behind him is a good idea for this defense.
The NFC South is on its way up after the Atlanta Falcons signed Kirk Cousins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans, so it will be fun to see how this division unfolds.
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