Louis Delmas visits New Orleans Saints
Louis Delmas (26) celebrates. Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The New Orleans Saints are looking for a new starting safety to pair up with talented rookie Kenny Vaccaro, who was a key chess piece for crafty defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. While Vac was very good last season, the Saints received more underwhelming play out of veteran Roman Harper and the overrated Malcolm Jenkins, who makes two negative plays for every positive play. Harper was an unsurprising cap casualty, and it sounds like the Saints are lukewarm on re-signing Jenkins, who is an impending free agent.
Per a league source close to Pro Football Talk, former Detroit Lions starting free safety Louis Delmas is visiting with the New Orleans Saints today, and it’s his first workout since visiting with the Pittsburgh Steelers shortly after being cut. The only reason why the Lions released him was because of cap woes, as he was solid last season. Delmas would be a significant upgrade in coverage for the Saints, and he and Vaccaro would form a solid safety duo behind No. 1 CB Keenan Lewis.
Last season, the 26-year-old Western Michigan product recorded 64 tackles, nine passes defended, three picks, and two sacks in a solid season and somehow played in 16 games. However, Delmas has chronic knee woes, so the Saints can’t even count on him to play in 12 games in a season. A candidate for an incentive-laden one-year deal, Delmas would be an upgrade on the field for the Saints, but his injuries make him a murkier option. But if he’s cheaper than Jenkins, then the Saints have to take a close look. All told, I like their decision to work him out, and it will be interesting to see how things progress. I don’t expect anything to be imminent, especially since the Saints are only looking for a cheap deal given their cap situation.