Saints believe Willie Gay can make a big difference for the defense

The New Orleans Saints kicked off free agency by signing veteran linebacker Willie Gay to a one-year deal. With Demario Davis and Pete Werner already under contract, not many people expected New Orleans’ first free agency move to be for an off-ball linebacker. However, the Saints understood how Gay could help the defense.

Now, with Gay present at OTAs, that impact is starting to unfold. The veteran linebacker, who’s preparing for his fifth NFL season, has been lining up as the third linebacker alongside Davis and Werner in New Orleans’ 4-3 base defense. Head coach Dennis Allen, and a couple of Saints defenders, recently spoke about the addition of Gay and how he’ll be able to help defensively once the season starts.

Saints believe Willie Gay can make New Orleans the top linebacker group in the NFL

Khalen Saunders who played with Gay on the Kansas City Chiefs, praised Gay’s versatility, saying he can rush the quarterback and cover, doing everything so well that he shouldn’t even be referred to as a linebacker. Saunders went on to say that Gay will really benefit from learning from Demario Davis.

Davis said that he’s excited to play with Gay, and he knows the defense can be special since they have talented players like Willie Gay. Davis also said that he’s been speaking with Gay about cementing his legacy in the NFL.

Gay already has two Super Bowls, won in the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. In his four years with the Chiefs, Willie Gay started 47 of the 57 games he played in, recording 233 total tackles, 17 for a loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, 19 pass deflections, and four interceptions, including one that he took back for a 47-yard touchdown. Bringing his speed and energy to the Saints defense, New Orleans is hoping that Gay wins his third straight Super Bowl.

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