Tag: undrafted

Saints announce undrafted free agent class of 13 players

Having previously agreed to terms, the New Orleans Saints announced their undrafted free agent class of 13 rookie players:

The New Orleans Saints made moves to select seven first-year players in the 2023 NFL draft, but that’s only part of their rookie class. The team announced contracts with 13 undrafted players on Saturday ahead of rookie minicamp practices next week — with some of them ranking among league leaders in lucrative contract guarantees.

First-round defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and second-round defensive end Isaiah Foskey have drawn a lot of attention, but it’s important to keep up with the young talent who will be competing for roster spots over the summer.

Here’s a look at the Saints’ confirmed undrafted free agent signings from Saturday’s announcement:

7 Saints undrafted rookies with the best chances of making the team

Between the strength of different position groups and their own skills, these seven Saints undrafted rookies may have the best shot at making the team:

The New Orleans Saints have signed a dozen rookie free agents in the wake of the 2023 NFL draft, and more of them are on the horizon with mass tryouts awaiting in rookie minicamps. But only a few of them will have a real shot at making the team — of the 17 undrafted free agents from the 2022 class, just two of them (wide receiver Rashid Shaheed and offensive lineman Lewis Kidd) were dressing out on many game days.

It’s impossible to say for sure until they hit the practice field, but here are some early favorites to compete for roster spots in Saints training camp:

Alontae Taylor among New Orleans Saints players wearing new jersey numbers

Alontae Taylor is among many New Orleans Saints players wearing new jersey numbers. Here’s what you need to know about the veterans and rookie free agents making moves:

The New Orleans Saints updated their official website’s roster after the 2023 NFL draft to reflect a series of jersey number changes among players on their team, both veterans returning from last year’s squad and the undrafted rookies who are hoping to stick around. We’ve already broken down the jersey numbers for the Saints’ 2023 draft picks, but there are other changes worth noting.

But more changes are on the way. For one thing, fifth-round safety Jordan Howden is listed in the same number as backup running back Eno Benjamin (No. 31). Once the Saints process roster cuts later this summer, other numbers will open up and some guys will make last-minute changes. So maybe hold off on ordering a jersey.

One of the most notable changes is for second-year cornerback Alontae Taylor. He started his Saints career wearing No. 27, but he’s now listed in No. 1, which his former teammate at Tennessee Marquez Callaway wore with the Saints last season. That’s a bold choice for a young player aiming for a starting job.

Another new addition, wide receiver Bryan Edwards, is going with No. 11 after previously using No. 89 (which was already claimed by his Saints teammate Rashid Shaheed). And we already know that backup safety Ugo Amadi, signed in March, has laid claim to the coveted No. 0 zero (for now). Here’s a quick look at the new numbers on the team:

Several New Orleans Saints rookies among NFL’s highest-paid undrafted free agents

Several New Orleans Saints rookies rank among the NFL’s highest-paid undrafted free agents. Expectations are high for them with rookie minicamp on the horizon:

There’s a lot to be said for hearing your name called in the NFL draft, but in some cases it pays to be patient and reach undrafted free agency. Those seas are turbulent, but there’s big profits to be won from sailing them. Several New Orleans Saints rookies have certainly cashed in this year after hammering out undrafted free agent contracts in the hours and days after the draft.

Once you get into the later rounds, some players may prefer to not be picked at all because of the unique contract quirks that comes with that status. For drafted players, contract guarantees are tied to their draft slot — so a sixth-round pick may only receive a signing bonus valued between $218,000 and $133,000, for example. Seventh-rounders receive even less in guarantees: former South Alabama wide receiver Kawaan Baker, the Saints’ seventh-round selection in 2021, only received $80,076 in guarantees as the No. 255 overall pick.

Not only do undrafted rookies get more guaranteed money, they also may have the luxury of choosing their team if there are competing offers on the table. Last year, the Saints signed returns ace Rashid Shaheed out of Weber State to an undrafted free agent contract carrying $222,000 in guarantees. He was the only undrafted rookie to get more than $200,000 in guarantees from New Orleans last season. At least three players have earned that in this cycle. Here’s why the Saints valued them so highly:

Saints sign undrafted returns specialist Malik Flowers out of Montana

The Saints have signed undrafted rookie WR Malik Flowers out of Montana, the school announced. He scored 7 touchdowns returning kicks in college:

Here’s a late undrafted free agent pickup for the New Orleans Saints. The Montana Grizzlies announced that wide receiver Malik Flowers has signed with New Orleans after not being picked in the 2023 NFL draft; he’s a 5-foot-11, 193-pound wide receiver who mainly worked as a returns specialist in college.

And he’s very impressive on kick returns. Flowers returned 92 kickoffs for 2,659 yards in his five-year career (an average of 28.9 yards per attempt), scoring 7 touchdowns in the return game. He wasn’t asked to field punts often, though, so he’ll need to work on that phase of the game to hang on with the Saints.

Flowers only played a bit part on offense at Montana until 2022, when he set career highs as a receiver — catching 31 receptions for 460 yards and a pair of touchdown grabs. He totaled 51 catches for 716 yards with 4 touchdown receptions in his career, along with 16 rushing attempts for another 251 yards and a touchdown run. He may have only timed the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, but he can move when the pads come on.

The Saints don’t have a clear returns specialist on the roster right now with Rashid Shaheed lined up for a bigger role on offense, so there’s an opportunity for Flowers to make the cut if he performs well over the summer. He’ll get his first chance to shine at rookie minicamps in the next week or two.

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Troy left tackle Austin Stidham invited to Saints rookie minicamp

Troy left tackle Austin Stidham has been invited to Saints rookie minicamp. He’s one of the most-experienced blockers in college football with 4,000 career snaps:

Former Troy left tackle Austin Stidham has been invited to New OrleansΒ  Saints rookie minicamp, the school announced Sunday. And he has a good shot at earning a contract offer. Stidham was one of the most-experienced blockers in college football with more than 4,000 career snaps, almost exclusively at left tackle.

He has the physical tools to hang at the next level, weighing in at 6-foot-4 and 294 pounds with long 34-inch arms, though he did not complete athletic testing before the 2023 NFL draft. Still, he’s a five-year starter at a competitive program, though he’s been charged with allowing 15 sacks and drawing 14 penalties in his college career, per Pro Football Focus charting. We’ll see if he has the movement skills to get by at the next level.

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28-year-old rookie Saints punter Lou Hedley might be the most interesting man in the NFL

28-year-old rookie Saints punter Lou Hedley might be the most interesting man in the NFL. The Australian ex-scaffolder was sensational at Miami:

The New Orleans Saints might have added the most interesting man in the NFL after the 2023 draft, having signed Australian punter Lou Hedley after his sensational run with the Miami Hurricanes. He hails from Mandurrah, a coastal city of about 107,000 people in Western Australia, and he’s as unique as they come.

Get to know him a little better before he arrives in New Orleans for rookie minicamp practices in a few weeks:

Tulane’s Nick Anderson picked the perfect jersey to celebrate signing with the Saints

Tulane’s Nick Anderson picked the perfect jersey to celebrate signing with the Saints. He’s hoping to follow in the footsteps of the legendary “Field Mouse” Sam Mills:

Congratulations are in order for former Tulane Green Wave linebacker Nick Anderson, who picked the perfect jersey to celebrate his signing with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent — the 5-foot-9 linebacker is drawing some inspiration from a “Dome Patrol” legend who was also called too short and small, flexing for the world to see in a Sam Mills jersey.

Now, Anderson may not be bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame like the “Field Mouse” once was, but this is a great role model for him to draw inspiration from. Anderson figures to compete for a job on the Saints special teams units (where he has a ton of experience, with 756 career snaps in college) and if that goes well, maybe he makes his case as a backup for Demario Davis. For now, we’ll congratulate him on getting the opportunity to go pro in New Orleans, and see where his football life takes him.

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New Orleans Saints sign undrafted Vanderbilt LB Anfernee Orji

New Orleans Saints sign undrafted Vanderbilt linebacker Anfernee Orji, via @DillySanders

The New Orleans Saints sign linebacker Anfernee Orji out of Vanderbilt to a big underafted free agent contract following the 2023 NFL draft, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.

The Saints are getting another undersized, but very athletic linebacker to join their team and fight for special teams snaps to keep his roster spot. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker had a 4.53-second 40-yard dash and an even better 1.51-second 10-yard split to earn an impressive 9.23 Relative Athletic Score.

At Vanderbilt, in four seasons, he had 269 tackles with 21 for a loss and three sacks. He also had one interception, coming in 2022. He’s a solid run defender in the box, but that’s really all he has brought consistently as a linebacker.

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New Orleans Saints sign undrafted South Carolina State WR Shaq Davis

New Orleans Saints sign undrafted South Carolina State WR Shaq Davis, via @DillySanders

The New Orleans Saints are signing HBCU alum wide receiver Shaq Davis out of South Carolina State as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL draft, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.

The wide receiver had his best season in 2022, getting a solid 45 catches for 934 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Bulldogs.

Davis is a large target, coming in at over 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds. He also had a stellar broad jump, but the rest of his testing had him at a 7.56 Relative Athletic Score. The team is giving Davis a contract with fairly large guarantees for an undrafted rookie, showing how badly the they wanted him in New Orleans.

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