When the New Orleans Saints started the 2024 season, the secondary was considered the strength of the team. The group had talented starters, and promising depth players, comforting fans that the Saints would be good against the pass. Unfortunately, a lot has changed since that point.
New Orleans traded away cornerback Marshon Lattimore during the season, then lost corner Paulson Adebo in free agency. Now, the team is also saying goodbye to safety Will Harris, who has reportedly agreed to a two-year deal worth $8 million with the Washington Commanders.
Will Harris leaves Saints for Commanders in free agency
Harris joined New Orleans last offseason after spending five years with the Detroit Lions, and emerged as a starting safety alongside Tyrann Mathieu. He missed several games with a hamstring injury, but started 13 total games for the Saints. In those games, Harris recorded 74 tackles, five pass deflections, and one interception.
While New Orleans struggled as a team, Harris provided solid safety play, and the Saints would’ve benefited from having him back. However, the Saints now have to move on and rebuild their secondary. At the cornerback position, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor are the top guys, and Tyrann Mathieu is still holding things down at safety. He’s accompanied by younger players like Jordan Howden and Millard Bradford.
New Orleans will have to try and find adequate starters and depth players in free agency, but the draft will be especially important for this team as they rebuild for the future. The one benefit of losing these players is giving new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley the opportunity to build the unit how he sees fit.
Staley is bringing a 3-4, zone-heavy defense to the Saints, so they’ll need different players to really get the most out of the system. With so many holes to fill on the defense, Staley and New Orleans can find their guys.