Saints Try To Build Roster With Two Potential Big Name Signings
UPDATE: Recent reports say neither Hunt or Barr signed contracts before leaving New Orleans.
The New Orleans Saints are expected to add two big-name free agents to their roster.
The reported signings come days ahead of the team's first preseason game.
Here's a look at who the Saints are bringing aboard and what the additions mean for the 2023 NFL season.
Adding To The Running Back Room
One of the two players reportedly coming to New Orleans is running back Kareem Hunt, who visited the Saints on Monday and is likely to sign with the team.
Hunt is a six-year NFL veteran. He made the Pro Bowl in 2017, the same year he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Since his rookie campaign, Hunt has failed to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. In 17 games with the Cleveland Browns last season, he carried the ball 123 times and finished with 468 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Signing Hunt makes sense for the Saints as starting RB Alvin Kamara was given a three-game suspension last week following his involvement in an incident in Las Vegas last year.
With Kamara out, Hunt will be a great high-level replacement for the first three weeks of the regular season.
Four-Time Pro Bowler
Another player that visited with the Saints earlier this week is linebacker Anthony Barr.
Barr spent the first eight years of his professional career with the Minnesota Vikings before playing with the Chargers in 2022.
Over 112 career games, Barr has made 553 tackles, including 41 tackles for loss, five interceptions and eight forced fumbles. He made four straight Pro Bowl games between 2015-2018.
The 31-year-old now joins a Saints' linebacker room with Pete Werner, Demario Davis, D'Marco Jackson and others.
Barr is expected to join the Saints along with Hunt sometime this week if they pass their physicals.
Saints Want To Win NFC South
The New Orleans Saints are trying to claim their first division title since 2020, and these new additions may put them in a prime position to do so.
Quarterback Derek Carr has to be impressed with the supporting cast around him. From Kamara, Jamal Williams and now Kareem Hunt in the RB room to Chris Olave and Michael Thomas as star wide receivers.
Add an offensive line with some potential, and the Saints could have the best offense in the NFC South.
Meanwhile, on defense, Cameron Jordan returns for his 13th NFL season terrorizing opposing QBs. Anthony Barr is unquestionably a reliable veteran at LB, and Tyrann Mathieu, Paulson Adebo and Marshon Lattimore make for a promising secondary unit.
New Orleans is the odds-on favorite to win the NFC South at +120. With the three other teams having more questions than answers, don't be surprised if the Saints are playing on Wild Card Weekend as division champs.
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