After being connected to Richard Sherman throughout the offseason, the New Orleans Saints are likely going to be forced to go in a different direction now that the former 49ers and Seahawks corner is in legal trouble.
It was reported last week that Sherman had been arrested on burglary and domestic violence charges. He was also connected to a hit and run that took place in Washington.
The Saints can’t sign Sherman with all of this information surfacing, but there are still talented cornerbacks out there who could make sense in the Big Easy. The Saints need a veteran cornerback after Janoris Jenkins departed in free agency because Marshon Lattimore is in the final year of his rookie deal and Paulson Adebo is a rookie.
If the Saints can work out a deal for a cornerback prior to the start of the season, here are four names they need to be eyeing.
Cornerbacks for Saints to Target – No. 4: Gareon Conley
This wouldn’t be an exciting name for Saints fans but Gareon Conley has experience in the NFL and he’s familiar playing alongside Marshon Lattimore, as the two were teammates at Ohio State.
Conley went in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft and his career hasn’t gone swimmingly to this point. He played in 23 games for the Raiders over three years before they traded him to the Texans in the 2019 season. Conley didn’t play in 2020 so he obviously isn’t going to be a starter if the Saints were to sign him.
Who Dat Dish’s own Darral Nail mentioned Conley as an option to consider as the Saints get deeper into free agency, but honestly, this isn’t a move that would help the defense much. Conley hasn’t stuck with a team for a reason and the Saints would be better off rolling with who they have than taking a flier on him.
Cornerbacks for Saints to Target – No. 3: Nickell Robey-Coleman
This one is a bit dicey for obvious reasons. As Saints fans know all too well, Nickell Robey-Coleman was the man in question during the no-call in the NFC Championship during the 2018 season. That right there could make bringing Robey-Coleman in pretty awkward.
Putting that aside, however, Robey-Coleman is someone who has eight years of NFL experience under his belt and could bring that experience to a Saints secondary that could certainly use it. NRC has played for three different teams after going undrafted out of USC in 2013, playing for the Bills for four years, the Rams for three, and the Eagles for one. He’s a free agent now and could play for team No. 4.
If the Saints were to go this route and bring Robey-Coleman in, it wouldn’t be as a starter. He’s never been a starter throughout his career and started just seven games for the Eagles last year but appeared in 15 total. He’s the perfect depth piece at the cornerback position and that’s exactly what New Orleans needs at this point in time.
Robey-Coleman is probably one of the more affordable cornerback options on the market right now but that’s usually an indicator of how talented a player is. The Saints would know that NRC wouldn’t be a starter but how desperate are they to add another cornerback before the start of the season?
Cornerbacks for Saints to Target – No. 2: Brian Poole
The biggest reason why Brian Poole is still available in free agency is that he injured his shoulder last November and had to have surgery on it. The injury has to be the reason Poole is still able to sign because he’s a talented cornerback and the Saints should take a shot and bring him in.
According to Pro Football Focus, Poole is one of the best slot corners entering the 2021 season, coming in at No. 7 on that list. And this guy is still available to sign!
The Saints could most definitely use Poole in their secondary but at this point, one has to wonder if Poole is still unsigned because he’s still recovering from his injury. Poole has five years of NFL experience under his belt, playing three seasons in Atlanta and the past two for the Jets.
There’s no doubt that the Saints’ secondary would be better with a healthy Poole on board but if he’s still waiting to be signed, his shoulder might still be nagging him. That being said, if he’s still on the market during training camp, the Saints might have to offer him some kind of deal and try to get him to the Big Easy.
Cornerbacks for Saints to Target – No. 1: Steven Nelson
The best cornerback available in free agency is Steven Nelson, who is still waiting to sign with someone as training camp is just over a week away.
Nelson, a former third-round pick out of Oregon State by the Chiefs in 2015, has played in the NFL for six years now. He played for Kansas City for four years and spent the past two years with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Nelson might not be a star at the cornerback position but he’s durable and efficient enough that he could fit in nicely with the Saints’ secondary. He’s missed just two games over the past two seasons and while there aren’t any Pro Bowls on his resumé, he received a 67.1 grade from PFF and had a grade of 80.5 in 2019. That’s quite the nod from PFF and it’s surprising to see Nelson still available to sign.
If the Saints are hellbent on signing a veteran cornerback before the 2021 season commences, Steven Nelson is the best option out there. He’s honestly a better option than Sherman too, even before all of the legal issues emerged for Sherman.
Nelson will be the most expensive cornerback to sign but at this point, he’d give the Saints a quality starter who could step in and help their secondary out in the best way possible.