Tag: receiving corps

Report: Saints tender Rashid Shaheed for the 2024 season

OTC’s Jason Fitzgerald reports the New Orleans Saints have tendered Rashid Shaheed for the 2024 season. But when can he sign a real extension?

There it is: The New Orleans Saints have tendered wide receiver Rashid Shaheed for the 2024 season, per Over The Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald. Shaheed was an exclusive rights free agent whose only options were to play for the Saints on a qualifying offer (the NFL minimum salary) or sit out a year.

Obviously, he was going to be coming back, but it’s good to have that confirmed so focus can turn to his fit in Klint Kubiak’s offense. Shaheed finished the 2023 season with the 10th-most all-purpose yards in the NFL and earned a Pro Bowl Games appearance for his work on special teams (as well as a spot on the All-Pro team).

Shaheed was one of just two players to gain more than 300 yards from scrimmage as well as 300-plus yards on both kick returns and punt returns, and he vastly outplayed his competitor. Denver Broncos rookie Marvin Mims, the AFC Pro Bowler kick returns specialist, totaled 22 receptions for 377 yards with a touchdown catch. Shaheed caught 46 passes for 719 yards, scoring five times.

He’s a special player. But after signing this tender he’ll only be under contract through 2024. What’s with that? Why didn’t the Saints sign him to a longer extension?

It’s an easy explanation: the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement doesn’t allow it. Players must accrue three years’ experience (at least six games per season) before they are eligible to sign a multiyear contract. Shaheed will play on the minimum salary of $985,000 in 2024 and go into 2025 as a restricted free agent, when he’s finally eligible to sign a real extension.

But the Saints can drag this out longer if they choose. Shaheed could be forced to play on a restricted free agent tender in 2025, which would be another one-year deal, before finally reaching unrestricted status in 2026. Hopefully both sides can work out an arrangement to keep him in New Orleans long-term without any frustrating negotiations or off-field drama with his contract. However, as we said, that’s still at least a year away.

In the meantime: Shaheed figures to play a key role in the new-look Saints offense as their No. 2 wideout behind Chris Olave. It’s going to  be fascinating to see how Kubiak restocks the receiving corps with just Olave, Shaheed, and second-year pro A.T. Perry under contract for 2024. Last summer the Saints took 13 wide receivers into training camp, maintaining a group of seven during the season (usually rostering five or six, with one or two on the practice squad). With such thin depth we should expect plenty of new additions throughout the offseason, both in free agency and the 2024 NFL draft.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Report: Tre’Quan Smith could miss third consecutive Week 1 game due to injury

Report: Saints wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith had surgery, could miss third consecutive Week 1 game due to injury

The New Orleans Saints could be shorthanded in the receiving corps when they kick off with the Tennessee Titans next week. Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan reports that veteran wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith underwent groin surgery this summer after a training camp injury, and he could still be on the mend when the Saints host Tennessee at the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 10.

Smith last practiced on Aug. 5, and he only recently returned to the team. Duncan adds that Smith traveled to Philadelphia to see Dr. William Myers, a specialist popular with NFL players who has treated many Saints standouts in the past. He’s still recovering from the procedure.

If Smith can’t go in Week 1, it will be his third consecutive regular season kickoff game missed with an injury — a 2022 shoulder injury kept him on the sidelines, as did a hamstring issue in 2021. Durability has been a concern for him over the years. Despite seeing few targets, he’s often asked to handle the dirty work as a blocker.

We’ll get a better idea of his availability when the Saints release their first injury report next week. Other receivers on the 53-man roster include Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, Rashid Shaheed, Keith Kirkwood, and rookie draft pick A.T. Perry; the receiving corps is rounded out with returns specialist Lynn Bowden Jr., second-year utility player Jontre Kirklin, and Shaquan Davis (an undrafted rookie from South Carolina State) on the practice squad.

Remember, teams may only dress 48 of the 53 players on the roster for game days, not including a third quarterback, while activating two practice squad players. Smith might end up in that number if he doesn’t start the season on injured reserve, but the Saints will give him an opportunity to try and practice next week before making a decision.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Updated Saints WR room after Bryan Edwards signing

Bryan Edwards brings a nice boost to the New Orleans Saints depth chart at wide receiver. Updating the receiving corps, via @DillySanders:

The New Orleans Saints have been in search of some weaponry for their new quarterback Derek Carr, now adding his former Las Vegas Raider teammate Bryan Edwards to the wide receiver room.

While they have enough bodies to go into next season with, they may not been done adding options. A lot of the receivers have similar builds and play styles. They could look to the draft to add different kinds of receivers.

For now, here is how the room is coming along after a couple of weeks of free agency:

Updated Saints wide receivers corps after adding Jarvis Landry

Updated Saints WR corps after adding Jarvis Landry to Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and 2021’s receiving leaders:

Bang: the New Orleans Saints made a big addition on Friday in adding veteran slot receiver Jarvis Landry, putting the free agent in the mix at a position group that now almost looks flush with talent. Landry is joining Michael Thomas and top 2022 draft pick Chris Olave on top of the depth chart, ahead of last year’s leading receivers Marquez Callaway, Deonte Harty, and Tre’Quan Smith.

It’s a strong group. Here are all of the Saints receivers currently on board for the 2022 season:

He’s back: Saints sign WR Tommylee Lewis to reserve/future contract

The New Orleans Saints signed Tommylee Lewis to a reserve/future contract. He did not play last year after trying out with the Detroit Lions

[jwplayer mQ0y9Urm-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints reunited with a familiar face on Monday, re-signing wide receiver Tommylee Lewis to a reserve/future contract, which guarantees him a spot on their 90-man offseason roster. He’ll have the opportunity to compete for a roster spot over the summer and through training camp, giving the Saints some experience at the bottom of the depth chart.

Lewis spent last offseason with the Detroit Lions after his first stint with the Saints wrapped up, but a training camp injury resulted in him not making it through roster cuts. He didn’t play in the 2019 season, though he did try out for a few different teams, including the Saints. He was selected by the XFL’s Dallas Renegades in the startup league’s inaugural draft, but declined to join them with NFL offers on the table.

Before that, though, Lewis appeared in 38 games from 2016 to 2018 (including the playoffs). He caught 20 of 28 passes for 252 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns, while also chipping in on special teams with 41 punt returns for 360 yards and 24 kick returns for 528 yards.

The arrival of rookie phenom Deonte Harris resulted in Lewis losing his roster spot and jersey number to the newcomer; including the playoffs, Harris bested Lewis’s number on both punts (fielding 40 for 382 yards) and kickoffs (returning 28 for 777 yards). It’s safe to assume Lewis won’t be a threat to Harris’s job security.

Lewis was the targeted receiver on the infamous no-call for defensive pass interference in the 2018 NFC Championship Game. His return signals little more than the serious need for better talent in the receiving corps behind first-team All-Pro Michael Thomas. Ted Ginn Jr. is headed for unrestricted free agency, while Austin Carr will have restricted status, and Keith Kirkwood will be an exclusive-rights free agent (meaning he likely returns). Here’s who the Saints currently have at wide receiver on the current depth chart:

  1. Michael Thomas
  2. Tre’Quan Smith
  3. Deonte Harris
  4. Lil’Jordan Humphrey
  5. Krishawn Hogan
  6. Emmanuel Butler
  7. Tim White
  8. Maurice Harris
  9. Tommylee Lewis

Interestingly, Lewis is the latest wide receiver from the Saints’ notorious group workout with Antonio Brown to get a job out of it. Lewis joins Harris and White with the Saints, while CFL all-star Reggie Begelton inked a reserve/future contract with the Green Bay Packers after working out for the Saints.

[vertical-gallery id=26750]

Who will be Alabama’s breakout receiver in 2020?

The University of Alabama has produced numerous star receivers, some that have gone on to play big roles in the NFL. Names like Julio Jones and Amari Cooper are standouts. Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs are the more recent stars who have shined in 2019 …

The University of Alabama has produced numerous star receivers, some that have gone on to play big roles in the NFL.

Names like Julio Jones and Amari Cooper are standouts.

Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs are the more recent stars who have shined in 2019 and will be making their way into the NFL next season.

With Jeudy and Ruggs leaving the program, that leaves only a few recognizable names on the Crimson Tide receiving corps, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle.

However, it takes more than two to tango in this case. So who will be the receiver that has a breakout season in 2020 and becomes a household name like the aforementioned players?

There are lots of young, untapped talent on the team like Tyrell Shavers and, the ever versatile, Slate Bolden, among others.

There seems to be one name that was called only four times in 2019 that catches my eye, John Metchie III.

The Canadian native was a four-star recruit in the 2019 class, his commitment to Alabama garnered plenty of attention as he was also recruited by Texas, Georgia and South Carolina.

Metchie didn’t get to see the field too much in 2019, which would make 2020 his R-Freshman season after playing in under four games last year.

While he did get some playing time, it was limited to only four receptions for 23 yards, probably not as productive as he would have hoped, but when you’re playing on the same team as four potential first-round picks over the next two seasons, he had to have been thankful to have seen some action.

He is listed at exactly six feet tall and weighs in at 195 lbs. according to the 2019 Alabama Football roster.. Not great measurable, but nothing to complain about if he can get the job done.

In his Senior year of high school, Metchie posted 738 yards of of 35 catches for seven touchdowns. These stats earned him an impressive ranking of being the No. 3 receiver in the state of New Jersey.

In the 2019 A-Day game, Metchie reeled in five passes for 133 yards, which was enough for him to be named the MVP of the game.

After the game, coach Saban had high praise for the true-Freshman receiver.

“He plays fast, has got some strength,” Saban said, “I think this guy is going to help us next year and I think he’ll be a good player for us.”

Well, he wasn’t utilized all too much in the 2019 season, as Saban had prematurely suggested, but it does show that the Alabama head coach has a strong faith in Metchie’s talents and skillset.

We are still far away from any depth chart or starter talk, but John Metchie III might be a name you want to get familiar with before the 2020 season begins, because it seems as if he may be the new face to take over the infamous Alabama receiving corps.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]