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The New Orleans Saints are marching on without starting defensive end Marcus Davenport, whose season is over with a foot injury. That loss prompted the team to work out several free agent pass rushers on Tuesday, including NFL veterans Noah Spence, Shane Ray, and Chris Smith.
Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Saints liked what they saw out of Spence enough to sign him. He’s been on their radar for a while now, going back to the months before the 2016 NFL Draft, when the former Ohio State star transferred to Eastern Kentucky after his Buckeyes career turned south. The 6-foot-5, 251-pound sack artist showed teams plenty to like in his game tape (picking up 20.5 sacks between his stops at two schools), and by all accounts impressed teams in pre-draft interviews.
New Orleans wasn’t able to draft him, however — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Spence with the 39th overall selection, just ahead of the Saints’ first pick in the second round. They went on to draft two of his former Buckeyes teammates in wide receiver Michael Thomas (at No. 47) and safety Vonn Bell (at No. 61), so Spence will now get to play alongside them again, as well as former Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple.
Shoulder and wrist injuries limited Spence to just 34 game appearances in his three-year stint with the Buccaneers and eventually ended his tenure there, though he was able to make plays in the pass-rush rotation with 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. The Saints have to hope he can contribute in their own defensive ends lineup behind Cameron Jordan, Trey Hendrickson, and Carl Granderson. Defensive tackle/end hybrid Mario Edwards Jr. can also step in as needed.
The corresponding move to Spence’s signing is up in the air for now, but with both Davenport and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins on the mend, it’s likely one of them lands on injured reserve to open a spot on the 53-man roster for him.
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