New Orleans Saints among four teams interested in signing Nick Easton
The New Orleans Saints may have just released Nick Easton, but they view the offensive lineman’s value high enough to potentially re-sign him.
While it may be an odd situation, the Saints are one of the four teams that have had preliminary discussions” with guard Nick Easton.
The team recently released Easton, saving about $6 million in cap space. It should be understood that, while it’d be a seven-figure contract for Easton, he wouldn’t return for as much as he would’ve made had he not been released.
ESPN’s Josina Anderson was the one to report that the Saints have an interest in bringing their former guard back. While he noted that four teams were interested, she didn’t say which other three were involved in the talks.
My understanding is at least 4 teams have engaged in preliminary discussions with free agent G Nick Easton (Saints)—1 of which includes New Orleans which is open to Easton returning after the club maneuvers through cap gymnastics. Meanwhile, Easton is not in a huge hurry to sign.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 23, 2021
Nick Easton originally signed a four-year, $23 million contract in 2019. The Saints pressing cap situation, the worst in the league, is the main reason the 28-year-old had to be let go.
It was a predictable move as the team signed Andrus Peat to a massive, long-term contract last offseason. Easton was just being paid too much to be the team’s best backup lineman despite being crucial for the Saints over the last few seasons.
Easton played 12 games last season and started 9 of them.
If the Saints can’t fill Easton’s role, they’ll be forced to draft a lineman for yet another draft. They’d likely take a late-round flier on a pick as the team will have more pressing needs with Trey Hendrickson and Marcus Williams both potentially exiting the Big Easy this offseason.
There are a few obvious teams that may have an interest in the veteran. It should also be noted that Easton is versatile and can play both guard and center. Tag that into his value, and teams like Kansas City and Cincinnati should be all over the veteran.
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Easton played over 50 percent of the team’s offensive snaps last season. He was crucial for the Saints’ record-setting success, and if they can bring him back for a fraction of what they released him for, they have to make that happen.