Who Dat Dish
Fansided

A Familiar Face To Fill Unresolved Need At Safety

By Ty Anania

Oct 16, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions strong safety Rafael Bush (31) makes an interception during the fourth quarter to end the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field. Detroit won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions strong safety Rafael Bush (31) makes an interception during the fourth quarter to end the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field. Detroit won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The New Orleans Saints have a need to fill at safety with the pending release of Jairus Byrd.

Fortunately, there’s an available safety that I’m sure would relish the opportunity to return to the New Orleans Saints.

And no, it’s not Malcolm Jenkins.

May 28, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) and free safety Rafael Bush (25) during organized team activities at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) and free safety Rafael Bush (25) during organized team activities at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Rafael Bush, who left New Orleans for Detroit in 2016, is an UFA. He’s only 29 years old and had a solid 2016 season for the Lions. He’d be a welcome addition to this Saints secondary.

Bush signed a one-year, $1.5M contract this past season, playing to increase his value after injuries landed him on IR for 2015. And while he didn’t take Detroit by storm, he earned a prominent role in their three-safety defensive sets.

The Lions drafted a safety last year, Miles Killebrew, and Killebrew figures to overtake Bush in that third-safety role. That leaves Bush somewhat out of the loop. He’ll likely chase a long-term contract that will be one of the last of his career. I’d be surprised if he didn’t consider New Orleans for that contract.

And I’d be further surprised if New Orleans didn’t give him a call to return.

They spent much of 2016 heavily relying on Roman Harper in a third-safety role. That won’t fly in 2017. And with Byrd soon to be a free agent, they’ll need some more bodies.

They will draft a safety. In this deep draft, that seems a given at this point.

But they need more than one new body and playing safety as a rookie is no easy task. Jamarca Sanford is still a free agent, and spent 2015 on IR. So did CFL transplant Erik Harris. Roman Harper is 34 and is likely mulling retirement. Vonn Bell and Kenny Vaccaro figure as the starters, but behind them the Saints have only special team contributors Chris Banjo and Robensen Therezie.

The Saints may look to move one of their CBs to safety. But they’d prefer to have an experienced vet who’s familiar with their systems. That could mean Rafael Bush.

Next: Tyler Raymond's Mock Draft 2.0

I hope it does. Bush played some very solid years in Black and Gold and I always thought highly of his abilities. The Saints could use some veteran leadership in their secondary, and Bush always seemed ready to step in when called upon.

Home/Saints Free Agency