Tag: Malcom Brown

Saints among a crowd of NFL teams reaching out to big Utah defensive tackle

More than half of the teams in the NFL have reportedly reached out to Utah draft prospect Leki Fotu, including the New Orleans Saints.

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While prospects at linebacker, wide receiver, and cornerback have been dominating the latest mock drafts, the New Orleans Saints might be preparing to throw everyone a curve ball by picking a defensive tackle early in this year’s NFL draft. Utah Utes big man Leki Fotu is the latest interior lineman to be connected to the Saints, who previously interviewed Texas A&M prospect Justin Madubuike.

The Draft Network’s Jordan Reid reported that the Saints are among a crowd of 18 different NFL teams to have contacted Fotu, along with possible draft fits like the Seattle Seahawks, as well as the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.

Widely considered a top-100 option in the 2020 draft class, Fotu would probably be under consideration when the Saints are on the clock at No. 88 — late in the third round. But if his meeting with the team went well, they could target him in a trade up the board, as they back in 2016 (acquiring David Onyemata, who signed a three-year contract extension earlier this offseason).

So what’s spurred the interest in Fotu? He’s an impressive athlete for the position, with his rugby background showing up in some nice movement skills. He timed the 40-yard dash in just 5.15 seconds at the NFL combine; a blazing mark for a 6-foot-5, 330-pounder. He started two years at Utah as a head-over-center nose tackle, notching 17 tackles for loss in his college career, and did a great job occupying blockers so his teammates could knife through gaps at the line of scrimmage.

However, the Saints’ interest in him is probably just cursory. Fotu wasn’t cleared to participate in this year’s Senior Bowl after initial physicals, and he didn’t finish combine athletic testing due to a hamstring issue. The Saints could have simply been doing their diligence to ask some pertinent questions about his medical history.

Besides that, his first-year fit in New Orleans is tough to nail down. Fotu would back up Malcom Brown (who saw just 31 snaps per game last year) at nose tackle. He lacks the pass-rushing skills or sleeker build to line up as a three-technique lineman, bullying guards with speed off the snap much like Onyemata, standout rookie Shy Tuttle, and former first-round pick Sheldon Rankins thrive in doing. The Saints could view Fotu as an upgrade over reserve nose tackle Taylor Stallworth (who spent most of the 2019 season on the practice squad), but is that really a spot they should prioritize so early in the draft?

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Who are the highest-paid Longhorns in the NFL?

A list of the ten highest-paid former Longhorns in terms of guaranteed money.

There’s dozens of former Texas players currently active in the NFL, but it’s been a quiet offseason other than Colt McCoy, Adrian Phillips, and Hassan Ridegway agreeing to new deals. Continue reading “Who are the highest-paid Longhorns in the NFL?”

Just how important was it for the Saints to re-sign David Onyemata?

The New Orleans Saints made re-upping David Onyemata a free agency priority, due to their success against the pass and run with him at DT.

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Of course it was a big deal when the New Orleans Saints agreed to terms on a contract extension with David Onyemata — the defensive tackle started 15 games last year (only missing Week 1 with a suspension) and led the position in snaps played per game (37.7), splitting time with both Sheldon Rankins (when healthy) and rookie standout Shy Tuttle for much of the year. So keeping him around bodes well for the unit’s immediate future, to say the least.

But let’s really dig into that. The Saints are expected to return all four starters to last year’s defensive line, including Onyemata, nose tackle Malcom Brown, and defensive ends Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport. Top backups like Rankins (who is really more of a co-starter when healthy, having averaged 41.4 snaps per game in his career), Tuttle, Mario Edwards, and Trey Hendrickson are all also running it back in 2020. And that’s a great thing considering last year’s defensive line was the best in the Sean Payton era, if not the last two decades of Saints football.

As a group, the Saints defense racked up 51 sacks in 2019, their most since Payton took the job as head coach (and the highest total since 2001, when they bagged 53 sacks). They consistently pressured quarterbacks throughout the season, peaking with a nine-sack performance against the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving. Another year of the same group working together, learning each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies, should only help them moving forwards.

But they also weren’t just a one-dimensional unit. The Saints defense, led by a tenacious group up front, paved the way for an NFL-best streak of 43 consecutive games played without allowing a 100-yard rusher. While some opponents passed that mark as a whole and certain running backs threatened it (like Dalvin Cook in the playoffs, with 94 yards gaindd on the ground), the Saints largely held their own and move into the 2020 season with a pronounced strength in run defense.

And much of that is due to the influence Onyemata carries up front. He’s as important to the group’s success as anyone, creating opportunities for teammates by absorbing double-team blocks and plugging run lanes. Even though his contract is pricey, it’s worth it considering the success the Saints have experienced with him in the lineup. Continuity is key in the NFL, and by re-signing Onyemata, the Saints proved they acknowledge that.

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Ex-Saints nose tackle Tyeler Davison cashes in with three-year Falcons contract

The Atlanta Falcons signed Tyeler Davison to a three-year contract extension, rewarding the former New Orleans Saints free agent departure.

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One former member of the New Orleans Saints earned a nice pay day, with the Atlanta Falcons re-signing nose tackle Tyeler Davison to a three-year, $12 million contract extension on the eve of free agency. With $4 million in guarantees (essentially the first year of his new contract), it’s a great windfall for a player the Saints let walk away last summer.

Davison started 12 games for the dirty birds in 2019, logging a career-best 55 combined tackles (26 solo). While Davison had been a starter for the Saints for several years before leaving, New Orleans opted to upgrade that roster spot by signing New England Patriots free agent Malcom Brown, on a three-year, $15 million deal (carrying $5.5 million in guarantees).

Brown went on make 34 combined tackles (18 solo), a career low, but consistently played at a high level in areas you won’t find in the box score. That’s just the nature of the position. Per Pro Football Focus, Davison was the NFL’s 52nd-best interior defensive lineman, with a grade of 67.5 (and 68.8 in run defense); Brown placed 49th, graded at 67.9 (67.0 in run defense), but made a noticeable impact in several pass-rush situations.

The Falcons are in a tricky position in free agency, having had to cut star talent like cornerback Desmond Trufant and running back Devonta Freeman, as well as offensive lineman Ty Sambrailo. First-round draft bust Vic Beasley, once the NFL’s sack leader, is testing the open market. They’ve apparently already lost Pro Bowl tight end Austin Hooper to the Cleveland Browns. With coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff on the thinnest ice imaginable, it sure feels like we’re close to more regime change in the NFC South. Which is great news for the Saints, who continue to sit on top.

But how does Davison’s new deal affect other free agents, like Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata? Davison’s $4 million annual salary as a mid-level starter projects well to build Onyemata’s stock as a high-upside target for interested teams. Expect there to be quite a bit of fire to the smoke surrounding his chances of signing a deal averaging $10 million or more, and be thankful for Shy Tuttle’s presence as a logical replacement.

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Former Longhorn Malik Jefferson waived by Cleveland Browns

Former Texas Longhorns linebacker Malik Jefferson was waived by the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday

On Tuesday, former Texas Longhorns linebacker Malik Jefferson was waived by the Cleveland Browns.

Jefferson is in just his second year as a pro. He was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

With the Browns in 2019, Jefferson only made an appearance in one game, and that game came in week one against the Titans. In that game, Jefferson recorded just one tackle.

Hopefully, we see Malik find a new home soon. After all, he was a third-round pick last year for a reason.

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WATCH: Quandre Diggs gets first interception with Seahawks

Watch as Seattle Seahawks defensive back Quandre Diggs gets his first interception with his new team

A few weeks ago, former Texas Longhorn defensive back Quandre Diggs was traded from the Detroit Lions to the Seattle Seahawks. Last night, Diggs saw his first action with Seattle in a clash between the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers went into this Monday Night Football matchup as the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL. The Seahawks were able to stun the 49ers in San Francisco, winning in overtime by a score of 27-24.

About midway through the 3rd quarter, Diggs was able to intercept 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with the score being 10-7 in favor of San Francisco. This interception led to a Seahawks touchdown, giving them the lead.

On the night, Diggs was able to tally two tackles, one of which was solo, a pass defense, and this interception.

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