Another of the Saints' recent undrafted free agent finds is headed to a new home in free agency.
Wide receiver and return ace Deonte Harty has agreed to terms on a 2-year, $13.5 million deal with the Buffalo Bills, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The deal includes $5 million guaranteed.
Harty was an asset immediately upon the Saints plucking him out if the UDFA pool in 2019, with the 5-6 speedster out of Assumption College winning the return role out of camp. Harty returned 24 kicks for 644 yards, including a long of 51 yards, but he really shined in the punt return game. He returned 36 of those kicks for 338 yards and a touchdown and earned All-Pro honors in that category.
The 25-year-old has held down return duties heading into each of the past three seasons, but struggled with injuries, missing 24 games, including the final 13 of the 2022 season after going on IR with turf toe. Harty had been incorporated more and more in the receiving game in 2020 and 2021, including hauling in 36 catches for 570 yards, with those catches highlighted by three touchdowns of more than 50 yards.
The 2022 season never quite got going for Harty, losing a fumble and failing to hit any big returns before his season-ending injury during a win over the Seahawks in Week 5. He was replaced by Taysom Hill in that game in the return role, but the job was handed to Rashid Shaheed the rest of the season, with the Weber State standout opening eyes throughout the organization during an impressive rookie campaign as both a returner and receiver.
Harty becomes the sixth Saints player to depart in free agency. QB Andy Dalton and DT Shy Tuttle each signed deals with the Panthers, while DT David Onyemata and LB Kaden Elliss signed deals with the Falcons. The other departure thus far is DE Marcus Davenport, who signed with the Vikings on a 1-year deal. All of those deals were agreed to during the NFL's legal tampering period and won't become official until 3 p.m. (central) on March 15.
The Saints made their big splash with the signing of quarterback Derek Carr to a 4-year, $150 million deal, but as of 9 a.m. Tuesday had otherwise not signed any more free agents from outside the organization, but has made moves to retain several key players. QB Jameis Winston and WR Michael Thomas have both agreed to reworked 1-year deals. The Saints have also re-signed safety and special teams ace J.T. Gray, TE Juwan Johnson, DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, WR Keith Kirkwood and G Calvin Throckmortion.
