NFL free agency update: Demario Davis signs with Saints

The New Orleans Saints got better in the middle of their defense. They have signed former New York Jets linebacker Demario Davis to a three-year deal.

The New Orleans Saints had their best season in six years last fall. They won the NFC South for the first time in 2011 and won a playoff game before falling on the road in Minneapolis to the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round. New Orleans should be a contender again in the NFC, as they are balanced on both sides of the ball. The Saints found a way to get better defensively in free agency by signing former New York Jets linebacker Demario Davis on Wednesday.

ESPN’s Dianna Russini broke the new that Davis was leaving Gang Green for a second time, only this time to the Saints. Davis was originally drafted by the Jets in the third round out of Arkansas State in the 2012 NFL Draft. He would sign a two-year deal with the Cleveland Browns in 2016 NFL free agency. However, he was traded back to the Jets in 2017 for safety Calvin Pryor.

Clearly, Davis wanted out of New York again. He has never played in an NFL playoff game. New York is still a few years away from getting back into them. The Saints could repeat in the NFC South, but should a wild card contender nevertheless in that always competitive division.

Davis is coming off a career year where he had 97 tackles, 38 assists, 5.0 quarterback sacks, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 16 games for Gang Green. To date, Davis has never missed a game in his six seasons between the Jets and the Browns. This looks to be a promising signing for the Saints this free agency.

Contract Details

Russini reports that is a three-year, $24 million deal that Davis will be signing with the Saints. $18 million of that $24 million will be guaranteed. He will be making twice what he did on his last contract he signed with the Browns. Back in 2016, Davis inked a two-year deal with Cleveland worth $8 million.

National Reaction

Next: 2018 NFL free agency tracker

Grade

New Orleans has put together an improving defense with Dennis Allen at the helm. Davis has always been readily available, but not the most productive linebacker until last season, coming in a contract year. The idea is that the Saints are paying a slight premium for him for what they want him to do going forward. Perhaps playing in a winning environment will get the best out of Davis? Either way, this is a win-win move for the both parties. Davis gets paid and New Orleans gets better defensively.

Grade: A