Report: Saints tight end Benjamin Watson garnering strong interest from Ravens
New Orleans Saints free agent tight end Benjamin Watson is reportedly getting strong interest from the Baltimore Ravens.
According to ESPN, the Baltimore Ravens are very interested in the veteran Benjamin Watson, who just had the best season of his career for the New Orleans Saints in 2015.
Saints Tight End Ben Watson is getting strong, strong interest from the Ravens per sources
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 8, 2016
With free agency set to get underway Wednesday afternoon, Watson could hit the open market if the Saints don’t re-sign him. He already expressed his desire to stay in New Orleans back in January:
“I had a good meeting with Mickey (Loomis) and Sean (Payton),” Benjamin Watson said. “We talked about the season like they do with everybody. They’ll make their decision with personnel whenever the time comes. I’m at a position where I’m healthy, thank God. I didn’t have any surgeries. I still enjoy playing football and I will take the opportunities as they come.
“I enjoy the city of New Orleans,” Watson added. “If it’s New Orleans, we would love to be here. We’re already settled. I’ve got five kids — I don’t feel like moving everybody everywhere,” Watson chuckled. “This is a great place for us and I enjoy playing here.”
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Benjamin Watson, who turned 35 in December, tallied career highs in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns for a 74-825-6 mark to close out his final contract year with New Orleans, helping Saints fans get over the departure of All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham.
Watson is without question a talented individual and one of the true leaders of this franchise both on and off the field, which is one of many reasons he was named one of three finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award alongside New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who ended up winning the award.
UPDATE: Report says Saints believe they have lost out on Watson.
The #Saints believe they've lost TE Ben Watson to the #Ravens, source said. He revived his career in New Orleans.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2016
Ravens have agreed in principle to a deal with free agent TE Benjamin Watson, per source
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) March 8, 2016
As far as Saints tight ends, Benjamin Watson and Josh Hill are both set to become free agents. The other free agent tight end, Michael Hoomanawanui, was re-signed on Tuesday.