Fansided

Saints signing Ndamukong Suh makes too much sense to not happen

By Russell S. Baxter

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 02: Ndamukong Suh #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on January 02, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 02: Ndamukong Suh #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on January 02, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft is still without a home for 2022. Could Ndamukong Suh wind up in the Big Easy this fall?

This past year, the New Orleans Saints got off to a 5-2 start with quarterback Jameis Winston at the helm. Coordinator Dennis Allen’s defense was up to the task. The team appeared to be clicking on all cylinders and that fifth victory was a conquest of the then-defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But Winston would be lost for the season in that game.

There would be a midseason slide and by the conclusion of 2021, the club owned a 9-8 record and would not be NFC South champions for the first time since 2016. The Bucs would claim the division via Tom Brady and one of the better defenses in the league.

Veteran interior presence Ndamukong Suh was part of that imposing unit. The 12-year veteran spent the last three seasons in Tampa and 2020 resulted in an NFL championship. But the five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro remains an unrestricted free agent.

There had been some recent noise (via Brandon Little of SI.com) that Suh could be headed to Cleveland. However, he remains on the open market. And it might benefit Allen and the Saints to add the reliable pro sooner than later.

While he had his issues early in his career, there’s only been one thing that has kept him off the field and that was himself. He received a two-game suspension in 2011 for stomping on Green Bay’s Evan Dietrich-Smith.

It adds up to 191 regular-season games and starts for Suh. He’s a solid presence up the middle and had amassed 70.5 sacks along the way. He’s reached the playoffs with four different franchises (Lions, Dolphins, Rams and Buccaneers) and has a combined 7.0 sacks in 12 postseason outings.

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Of course, Allen is now the head coach, with Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard co-defensive coordinators. But just imagine a Saints’ defensive front with Suh joining David Onyemata up the middle and Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport as bookends? And that group chasing division-rival Tom Brady around the field at least two times a season?

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