Rod Walker: Saints filled holes early in free agency with players they both wanted, needed

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They did that by going all in on the guys they coveted. 

It’s why Carr thanked Allen for all those phone calls and text messages when the Saints were courting him.

“Thank you for texting me and blowing up my phone to make sure I got to the right spot,” Carr told Allen at his introductory news conference last week.

Saunders, who spent his first four NFL seasons in Kansas City, had similar sentiments. His brief time in free agency wasn’t the typical scenario of him fielding offers from several teams and then choosing the Saints.

“The Saints were contacting my agents and they were like ‘Hey, we want him. We want to give him an opportunity,’” Saunders said. “Once you hear that, you’re like I didn’t need to hear anything else. The biggest thing for me is getting the opportunity and feeling wanted. That was the tone from the start. I’m eager to do it. Why not? Why wouldn’t I take it?”

Williams, who rushed for 1,066 yards and a league-best 17 touchdowns last season in Detroit, jumped at the opportunity as well. He calls the deal the Lions offered him to return to Detroit as “disrespectful.” He had offers to go elsewhere, which should be expected considering the season he had.

But the Saints needed him and wanted him.

“Honestly, it kind of came out of nowhere,” Williams said. “But at the same time, I just loved how they had interest in me and just showed that they wanted me to be here.”

The Saints still could use some help. They could use some depth at linebacker now that Kaden Elliss has moved on to Atlanta. They could use depth at defensive end now that the Marcus Davenport experiment has ended and he’s now in Minnesota. And at some point they need to start grooming a young quarterback for the future. 

This week, though, the Saints filled their most pressing needs.

Now, it’s time for Carr, Williams, Saunders and Shepherd to show they were the right choices.

“Sometimes when new players come into a new team, it gives us that type of common goal and that common emotion of you got let go from a team, now you’re on a new team,” Williams said. “Now go prove why you are on this team. Go prove why you got signed. That’s what Derek (Carr) wants to do. That’s what I want to do. This team has already been good. I’m grateful to come on here and give my motivation and give our performances. We’re ready to go.”

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About Marc Lemoine 2029 Articles
Marc is an Economist and a well experienced weightlifter who has won many championships. He intends to build a bright career in the media industry as well. He is a sports freak who loves to cover the latest news on sports, finance and economy.

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