The New Orleans Saints just made a splash, agreeing to terms with former Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards on a deal. It's huge for the Saints, who are sure to see improvements with him on the field.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Edwards and the Saints agreed on a four-year deal that's worth $61 million, with $15 million of it guaranteed. One of the top guards last year, New Orleans is likely to quickly see his impact on the field. Edwards was one of the top guards last season, while the interior offensive linemen of the Saints were at the bottom of the barrel.
Edwards is also a Super Bowl champion, an experience that is sure to be beneficial to the locker room. He'll also likely be the first left guard since Andrus Peat left after the 2023 to consistently make appearances for the Saints. The offensive line saw both Trevor Penning and Dillon Radunz dabble on the left side of the interior last season, but as insinuated earlier, neither was very successful.
In just two hours on Monday, the Saints offense changed massively
The signing of David Edwards might've been the second big signing of the day for the Saints, but it was the one that solidified a huge change in the offense. Slightly before the Edwards news broke, it was announced that Travis Etienne is expected to return to his home state of Louisiana. A speedy and versatile running back, he is sure to be a valuable complement to Alvin Kamara.
The Saints have fortified the weakest spot on the offensive line, and arguably the team, and the running back gives you a new lead dog in the room. To run the ball effectively, you need good blocking and a good runner. The Saints spent big for both.For a team that struggled to run the ball, Kellen Moore and company certainly understood they needed to bolster that aspect of their team.
In just a few hours, really, the Saints' offense changed massively. They went from a team that barely had any run game to speak of to one where that's the main topic of conversation. These additions should also help Tyler Shough massively, who is looking to solidify himself as the next franchise quarterback in New Orleans.