Andrus Peat signs with Saints: Grade, reaction and more

The New Orleans Saints brought back guard Andrus Peat, keeping one of the best offensive lines in football together for the foreseeable future.

It’s rare to see guards get paid, but Andrus Peat is doing just that.

Peat signed on Friday for five years and $57.5 million to stay with the New Orleans Saints, the same team which drafted him in the first round in 2015. The Saints have enjoyed one of the best offensive lines in the league for some time, and keep the group together with this move.

Having Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk on the outside, and maybe lends a question mark to this signing. While Peat is a know name because of his draft position, was he worth bringing back with any kind of massive cash outlay? The film suggests he’s an average player who used leverage to be paid like a great one.

Contract details

As stated above, Peat signed on the dotted line for five years and $57.5 million, including $33 million guaranteed. While he didn’t get the $12 million per year given to fellow guard Graham Glasgow by the Denver Broncos, Peat checks in second this offseason in annual value.

National reaction

https://twitter.com/Cantguardmike/status/1241055840477630464

It’s understandable why the Saints paid Peat. General manager Mickey Loomis is all-in and likely sees him as a solid piece of a great front. However, the Saints could have paid Stefen Wisniewski $4 million over two years and maybe gotten better play. Of course, this is only one example of many.

Peat isn’t a bad player, but he’s middling, and the Saints are paying him like a perennial Pro Bowler.

Grade: B+