Saints Free Agency Update: Jaguars DL Paul Spicer drawing interest from New Orleans

New Orleans has been one of the busiest teams during the free agency period this year – bringing in several big name players.

It now looks as if Jaguars DL Paul Spicer is drawing some serious interest from the team.

The defensive line is not the most pressing need for the Saints, but Spicer offers a nice option if current starters Will Smith and Charles Grant are required to fulfill a four game suspension at the start of the upcoming season.

Grant and Smith both tested positive for a banned substance and are currently appealing the suspension in a federal court.

Spicer is a ten year veteran that has spent the last nine years with Jacksonville starting in 63 games. In 2008 he recorded 34 tackles, 31 solo, 3.5 sacks and 2 pass deflections.

New Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is very familiar with Spicer after spending last season as the Jaguars defensive coordinator – a definite advantage if the team is seriously considering signing the veteran.

Don’t count on a quick signing though.  The Saints seem anxious to bring these players in, but not anxious to get them under contract quickly.

To date the Saints have brought in DT Shaun Cody, S Gerald Sensabaugh, S Darren Sharper, FB Heath Evans, CB Ron Bartell, and CB Jabari Greer. Greer and Evans are the only two free agents to have signed with the team so far- Bartell re-signed with the Rams and Sensabaugh chose to take a one year deal from Dallas.

No offer has been tendered to Cody yet and it seems unlikely the Saints will try to pursue him further with a roster already loaded with defensive tackles.

It has been rumored Sharper is very close to signing with New Orleans. How much stock you can put into that is uncertain being his initial visit was over two weeks ago. Sharper would surely fill one of the Saints glaring needs at safety but neither side seems to be in a rush to get the deal done.