[jwplayer Y0hsMpqj-ThvAeFxT]
It’s been an eventful three years for New Orleans Saints linebacker A.J. Klein. He signed with the team as an unrestricted free agent back in 2017, having backed up Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis with the division-rival Carolina Panthers for the first leg of his career.
Since then Klein has risen to prominence as a starting linebacker in New Orleans. It’s the city where he and his wife became parents, having adopted a son and welcomed the birth of their daughter in 2019. He’s put down roots and isn’t very eager to move on, even though he acknowledges that’s part of the business he’s in.
He originally signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Saints; for salary cap accounting purposes, that deal included an automatically-voided fourth year, which means he’ll hit the open market in March. He’ll turn 29 in July, and this might be his last chance to draw a big contract.
Klein spoke about his uncertain future with The Athletic’s Katherine Terrell, saying, “I would obviously be very excited about the opportunity to come back. I’ll cross that bridge when we get there and obviously take this time to digest everything that happened.”
Wherever Klein goes next, he’s poised to cash in during free agency. He had a career year with the Saints in 2019, posting career-bests in solo tackles (45), sacks (2.5), and quarterback hits (5). He capped it all off by returning an interception for a defensive touchdown in Week 17 against the team that showed him the door, his first scoring play in seven years in the NFL.
Lining up predominately as a strongside and middle linebacker, he showed an ability to make an impact as the backside pursuer on stretch plays while holding up well in run defense when the ball came his way. The 753 snaps he played on defense beat his previous career-highs of 669 and 664, each totals from his past two years with the Saints.
“It’s been,” Klein continued, gathering his thoughts, “a quick three years since I’ve gotten here, and just to see the change in the culture and obviously be able to be part of a defense that’s been able to win football games around here is huge.”
On paper, the Saints are set up well at linebacker for 2020, even if they’re a little beaten up. First-team All-Pro Demario Davis will continue to start on the weak side. Alex Anzalone is the projected starter in the middle, even though his year ended on injured reserve. He has a lot to prove in what will be a contract year. The Saints acquired Kiko Alonso in a preseason trade with the Miami Dolphins and he’s the easiest fit on the strong side, but he’ll spend the offseason rehabbing a surgically-repaired torn ACL. Rookie backup Kaden Elliss also went down with an ACL injury back in September, leaving Davis and veteran backup Craig Robertson as the only healthy options on the roster right now.
While there’s no guaranteeing whether Klein would start, his presence would do a lot to solidify that group. Maintaining continuity from one year to the next is important in the NFL, especially on defense. But Klein’s acutely aware that whether he sticks around is not something he can control right now.
“I don’t know whats going to happen,” Klein admitted, “I don’t know what my future is here, whether it’s this team or a different team. I’ll let things run their course but … I’d love to be back. I love this city, I love this team. I love this locker room and I’m invested in it, but we’ll see.”
[vertical-gallery id=26617]