The Saints managed to get their quarterback back in the building in Jameis Winston, but they'll be looking for a replacement on his blind side with Terron Armstead set to depart in free agency.
The longtime star Saints left tackle cashed in with the Miami Dolphins on a new 5-year deal worth $75 million before incentives, according to a report from NFL.com. He had met with the Dolphins earlier in the week.
Armstead departs the Saints after nine stellar seasons, though with his share of injury woes during that span. Armstead has started at left tackle since his rookie season in New Orleans when he was drafted in the third round out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The surprisingly athletic big man wowed at the combine, and proved a stalwart at the left tackle position, but injuries limited him to 10 or fewer starts in three of the past five seasons.
The 30-year-old had reportedly been holding out to see what happened with the Saints' pursuit of Deshaun Watson, as that could have impacted his decision. But Watson ended up with the Browns, and Armstead heads to the Dolphins.
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The Saints have been largely quiet thus far in free agency, signing Marcus Maye in place of the now-Ravens safety Marcus Williams, and Kentavius Street to bolster the pass rush. The Saints could opt to shift longtime RT Ryan Ramczyk across the line, which would trigger an escalator built into the contract he signed before last season while addressing the position in the draft. A handful of veteran options remain on the board should the Saints go that route, though many of the top names are now off the board.
Should the Saints look in house, they could turn to Landon Young who pulled spot duty amid injuries at the tackle spots in his rookie season, or veteran James Hurst, who has served as a backup swing tackle the past two seasons.