New Orleans Saints: Top 5 offseason additions, post 2018 NFL Draft

2. Cameron Meredith, WR (from Chicago Bears)

There’s not a lot of movement in recent seasons when it comes to the restricted free-agent market. If not familiar with how it works, a team that can sign one of these players to an offer sheet and the original club can match it. If they opt not to, compensation depends on what the tender was for the player. In many cases, it’s simply a right of first refusal by the original team and no draft choices are involved.

This offseason, the New Orleans Saints were involved in a pair of such moves. When the Baltimore Ravens inked wideout Willie Snead to such a sheet, the defending NFC South champions opted to let him go. Of course, earlier in the process, the Saints would obtain wide receiver Cameron Meredith the same way when the Chicago Bears decided not to match New Orleans’ offer sheet.

Of course, that team in the Windy City was pretty busy during free agency loading up on wide receivers. And Meredith did miss all of 2017 with a knee injury. But back in April, he had a goal in mind when it came to getting back on the field. “I see myself being 100 percent for at least the season,” said the young wideout to Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate. “Training camp is my goal, and I don’t see any reason why I can’t accomplish that.”

When last we saw the 6-3, 207-pound target, he was the Bears’ top pass-catcher in 2016. Meredith hauled in 66 passes for 888 yards and four scores. He offers Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees a sure-handed option that compliments the likes of Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn, as well as veteran tight end Benjamin Watson (back with the team for the first time since 2015).

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