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How Lonnie Johnson Jr. will fit with the Saints

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By Nick Underhill

The Saints made an interesting move Monday, adding Lonnie Johnson Jr. to the depth in the secondary.

Here’s our quick take based on what we know about him:

What does Johnson do well?

Johnson is a player without a primary position. He’s played cornerback, free safety and lined up in the slot during stops with the Texans and Titans to start his career. The fact that Johnson doesn’t fit perfectly anywhere might be the thing that appeals most to the Saints.

New Orleans likes versatile defensive backs and almost always has a dime player who can line up all over the field. Justin Evans did some of that last season, and it has long been a staple of P.J. Williams’ game. With Evans signing with the Eagles and Williams still a free agent, there was a vacancy for a new player in that role. Of everything he does, it looks like Johnson’s coverage numbers in the slot were a little spotty; he also missed a handful of tackles there. ...

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Latest Saints News

Dennis Allen, Jeff Ireland to represent Saints at Ohio State and Alabama pro days

  • News source: John Sigler
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 37
Two of the New Orleans Saints’ top decision-makers will be getting a good look at some of the best prospects in the 2023 NFL draft this week. Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan reports that head coach Dennis Allen and college scouting director Jeff Ireland are planning to attend the pro days for Ohio State (on Wednesday, March 22) and Alabama (on Thursday, March 23) with dozens of draft-eligible players in attendance. Expect multiple position coaches and area scouts to accompany them so they can get eyes on as many prospects as possible.

Are the Saints tipping their hand by sending Allen and Ireland...
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Here's why new Saints DB Lonnie Johnson wanted to get to New Orleans 'as soon as possible'

  • News source: BY LUKE JOHNSON | Staff writer
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 48
Lonnie Johnson said he had a couple options available in free agency, but there was really only one choice.

The New Orleans Saints, he said, represented the best opportunity, the best fit and the best situation. He signed a one-year deal with the club, giving them another versatile piece to fortify their defensive secondary.

“This team has a great history and a winning culture, so it was like there was no other option for me,” Johnson said. “I was like, let me just go ahead and get here and become a Saint as soon as possible.”

With the Saints, Johnson shouldn’t have a hard time...
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Versatile Minnesota DB Jordan Howden schedules private workout with Saints

  • News source: John Sigler
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 36
Here’s a prospect who looks like a New Orleans Saints draft pick through-and-through. Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Jordan Howden scheduled a private workout with the Saints after his impressive pro day, per The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler.

Howden weighed in at 5-foot-11 1/2, 203 pound with long 32 1/4-inch arms and timed the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds. More impressive are his times with a 10-yard split of 1.53 seconds and a three-cone drill of 6.87 seconds. He also posted a 39.5-inch vertical jump, helping to generate a Relative Athletic Score of 8.8. All of those numbers...
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Saints send WR coach Kodi Burns to Xavier Hutchinson's Iowa State pro day

  • News source: John Sigler
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 48
New Orleans Saints wide receivers coach Kodi Burns was spotted at Iowa State’s pro day on Tuesday, per Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline. Most of the attention was directed towards Cyclones pass rusher Will McDonald IV, but the Saints were looking out for wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson. He’s leaving Iowa State with the school record for career receptions (254), ranking third in all-time receiving yardage behind Allen Lazard (3,360) and former Saints undrafted free agent Todd Blythe (3,096).

It’s easy to see what caught their eye; Hutchinson shares a lot of similarities with Jarvis...
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Saints schedule pre-draft workout with Georgia Tech linebacker Charlie Thomas

  • News source: John Sigler
  • Replies: 1
  • Views: 48
Linebacker is something of a position of need for the New Orleans Saints ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, so it’s good to see them being proactive about one of their vulnerabilities. All Yellow Jackets’ Jackson Caudell reports that the Saints have scheduled a pre-draft workout with Georgia Tech linebacker prospect Charlie Thomas, who impressed scouts and coaches at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas.

Thomas is a fifth-year linebacker who developed considerable experience at Georgia Tech, having logged an impressive 2,457 defensive snaps in his college career. He’s also played 367 snaps on...
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Michael Thomas contract: Saints will be right back where they started with WR in 2024

  • News source: John Sigler
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 76
You’ll have a hard time finding a more unique contract around the NFL than the one Michael Thomas signed with the New Orleans Saints last week. While it’s technically a two-year extension tying Thomas to the Saints for 2023 and 2024, the deal is structured so that both sides will return to the negotiating table this time next year.

Per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, Thomas will trigger future roster bonuses of $31.7 million, $28.7 million, and $58.6 million if he’s on the roster by a certain date next offseason — NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett clarifies this as the third day of the 2024...
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Saints and Chargers expected to hold joint practices, per reports

  • News source: Tina Howell
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 35
The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers are expected to hold joint practices again per Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com.

The joint practices which would be held in California at the Chargers’ training camp site still need to be approved by the league. The practices would take place prior to the game between both teams in the second week of the preseason, which is August 17th - August 20th. This will be the 4th time that the Saints and Chargers have held joint practices. They previously worked out together in 2017, 2018 and in 2019.

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Daniel Jeremiah mock draft 3.0: Saints pair Juwan Johnson with 2023's best TE

  • News source: John Sigler
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 93
There aren’t many draft analysts better clued-in than Daniel Jeremiah, who recently published his latest 2023 mock draft for NFL.com. And he has the New Orleans Saints making a sneaky-great pick at the end of the first round. Jeremiah likes the Saints to pick Notre Dame prospect Michael Mayer, pairing Juwan Johnson (who signed a two-year extension last week) with the best tight end in the 2023 draft class.

“Mayer would be an excellent value pick at this point in Round 1. He is a complete tight end, and Derek Carr would have a reliable security blanket on third down,” Jeremiah wrote of the...
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Mel Kiper's latest first-round mock draft links the Saints to DT Bryan Bresee

  • News source: John Sigler
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 84
The New Orleans Saints have done a great job navigating free agency to where they won’t be forced to reach on a position of need in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. They’ve addressed holes at quarterback, running back, tight end, and defensive tackle through the first week of veteran signings, so they can go into April looking to add the best prospects available.

Here’s an idea of who might be available from ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. In his last mock draft, Kiper had the Saints picking Georgia Bulldogs tight end and professional people-mover Darnell Washington, but in this...
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Fleur-de-Links, March 21: Saints sign defensive back

  • News source: Adam Dunnells
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 32
The Saints have reportedly signed former Houston Texans defensive back Lonnie Johnson.

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed former Saints safety Justin Evans.

Recent Saints signees Jamaal Williams, Nathan Shepherd, and Khalen Saunders appeared on the most recent episode of the Saints Podcast.

The Detroit Lions have signed former Saints cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

New Orleans Saints Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson celebrated his 65th birthday by finishing the coursework for his history degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Former Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks has been...
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Bulking up the line: defensive linemen the Saints can draft

  • News source: CarsonCaulfield
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 39
The “cap god” Mickey Loomis has made some impressive moves so far this offseason. Adding Jamaal Williams, Derek Carr, and Nathan Shepherd while resigning most of your top offensive producers is an impressive feat with such limited cap space.

However, one of the “cap casualties” this season was not just one, but two starting defensive linemen along with DE Marcus Davenport.

Although the New Orleans Saints have recently signed free agents Nathan Shepherd (NYJ) and Khalen Saunders (KCC), there is still an undeniable need for more talent at defensive tackle. In fact, more and more mock...
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Why the Saints should sign DE Yannick Ngakoue

  • News source: Jonny_Camer
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 78
The New Orleans Saints are in the process of revamping the entire defensive line. After not resigning key players on the defensive line and hiring Todd Grantham, the team clearly wanted to move in a new direction.

They’ve made some progress signing Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shephard, but the team shouldn’t be done yet. The team lacks real pass rushers except for Cameron Jordan. All successful NFL teams are able to put pressure on opposing QBs. This is why the team should sign DE Yannick Ngakoue.

To put it simply, Ngakoue is a sack machine. The former third rounder has had eight or more...
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The Saints have been the third-biggest spenders in free agency

  • News source: Ross Jackson
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 72
Well this is a little uncharacteristic. The New Orleans Saints have no doubt been busy this offseason, adding new starting quarterback Derek Carr, running back Jamaal Williams, a pair of talented defensive tackles in Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd along with a few other depth signings. Most recently, they added versatile defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. as well.

An active free agency period makes sense considering the losses of several players this offseason. With players like defensive tackles David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle as well as former starting quarterback Andy Dalton all...
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Chargers expected to host Saints for joint practices ahead of preseason game

  • News source: Ross Jackson
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 26
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers are expected to hold joint practices this preseason, per NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan. The Saints and Chargers are scheduled to compete in an exhibition game to be scheduled Aug. 17-20. But it looks like ahead of that, the teams will square off for a few days in Costa Mesa, Calif. The practices would be held at the Jack R. Hammett Sports Complex.

If approved by the league, this will be the fourth time since 2017 in which New Orleans and Los Angeles have held joint practice with one another. An annual...
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Marcus Davenport officially signed Vikings contract on Monday

  • News source: Mike Florio
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 44
The drama is over. If there ever was any, there isn’t now.

Per a Vikings representative, former Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport signed his one-year contract with Minnesota on Monday. It has been submitted to the league. It should appear on the official transactions report today.

It would have been done sooner, but Davenport is traveling with his family. He returns from the trip tomorrow, and the Vikings play to introduce him on Thursday.

So there it is. Davenport is a Viking, at least for 2023. He’ll make at least $10 million, with another $1 million tied to participation in...
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Saints expected to conduct joint practices against Chargers in California during training camp

  • News source: BY JEFF DUNCAN | SPORTS COLUMNIST
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 44
The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers are making plans to conduct joint practices in the Los Angeles area during training camp this summer, multiple sources said this week.

The workouts, which still need to be approved by the NFL, would be held at the Chargers’ training camp site at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, California, and would precede an exhibition game between the teams during the second week of the preseason schedule, Aug. 17-20, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Times and dates of the workouts will be determined at a later date, but traditionally the...
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