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We’ve got a live one! NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the New Orleans Saints expect to sign Carolina Panthers fullback Alex Armah after reaching an agreement with him on a free agent contract, which was confirmed by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. The length of the deal and its value have not been immediately reported. Last year’s fullback Michael Burton remains an unrestricted free agent.
Armah was a sixth-round 2017 draft pick by Carolina out of West Georgia, where he was a two-way player who mixed it up at linebacker and defensive end; he’s gone on to appear in 58 games with the Panthers (one playoff appearance), rarely handling the football himself with just 64 career scrimmage yards. It shouldn’t take him long to eclipse that total in New Orleans, where versatile fullbacks are valued well. He’s also a frequent contributor on special teams, where he’s seen 868 career snaps.
And he certainly is position-flexible. Armah weighs in at 6-foot-2 and 255 pounds and timed the 40 yard dash in 4.68 seconds at his pro day, and that athleticism served him well in 2020. With former Saints assistant Joe Brady running the Carolina offense, he lined up all over the formation as a traditional fullback as well as a blocking inline tight end, slot receiver, and occasional backfield halfback and route-runner out wide.
He’ll get ample opportunities to show what he can do in New Orleans. There aren’t many running backs like Alvin Kamara, but his experience working with Christian McCaffrey should do a lot to prep him for teaming up with No. 41.