At least one member of the Saints defensive line slated for free agency is planning to stick in New Orleans.
The team announced Monday that it had inked veteran DE Tanoh Kpassagnon to a new 2-year deal. That contract will be worth $6 million, 2.5 million of which is guaranteed, according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapaport.
Kpassagnon, 28, was a 2nd round pick of the Chiefs and played in Kansas City for 4 seasons before signing a 2-year, $4.5 million deal with the Saints prior to the 2021 season. He's logged 46 tackles (29 solo) and 6 sacks over those two seasons, playing significant snaps in many instances despite only starting xxx games.
The signing is an early bit of depth for a DL group with significant questions to answer heading into the start of free agency on March 15. Each of DE Marcus Davenport and DTs David Onyemata and Kentavius Street are entering free agency, with the Saints' former DL coach shipping across the NFC South to be the Atlanta Falcons' new defensive coordinator. That familiarity could be an additional prompt for FA interest, with former Saints executive Terry Fontenot also serving as the GM.
The Saints have also handed out 1-year deals to bring back G Calvin Throckmorton and WR Keith Kirkwood.
If the Saints opt to let Davenport walk, it'd end a saga that began with a bold draft trade to select him at No. 14 in the 2018 NFL draft. Over his five seasons Davenport has shown flashes but struggled with injuries, logging 113 tackles and 21 sacks over 48 games. That flipped in 2022, with Davenport appearing in 15 games but only managing a half-sack on the year.
It's also a question of the investment in Payton Turner, whom the Saints selected at No. 28 in the 2021 draft. He's also dealt with injuries, but was a healthy scratch in several games during the 2022 season.
With Kpassagnon's signing, the DE group under contract now consists of him, Turner, veteran and team leader Cam Jordan, and an ascending young player in Carl Granderson.
