A Saints-to-Lions pipeline shaped just lately, with Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn in place after prolonged New Orleans tenures. Will Harris will make the reverse journey, committing to the Saints on Wednesday.
Busy reshaping their DB corps final 12 months, the Lions lowered Harris’ taking part in time regardless of re-signing him. After the previous third-round decide had performed 1,012 defensive snaps for the 2021 Lions and logged 660 in 2022, the Lions’ bevy of additives stored him as a backup final season. Harris performed in each Lions recreation however began solely two and was on the sphere for simply 192 defensive performs. The Bob Quinn-era draftee will nonetheless convey some versatility to the Saints, having spent full seasons at each security and nook — with a while as a sub-package linebacker — whereas in Detroit.
Because the Lions introduced in C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cameron Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and second-rounder Brian Department final 12 months, Harris performed on a one-year, $2.58M deal. The Lions have moved on from three of those gamers, making a concerted effort to improve at nook, the place Harris spent the 2023 season. Detroit moved Harris to nook earlier than the 2022 season and stored him thereupon re-signing the Boston Faculty product. Harris began two video games final season, taking part in behind the likes of Sutton, Jerry Jacobs and Kindle Vildor. Solely Vildor stays with the Lions amongst that CB cadre, because the crew traded for Carlton Davis and used its first two draft decisions on corners final week.
Harris began 11 video games from 2019-20 however made 17 begins throughout Campbell’s first season, a rebuilding marketing campaign that ended at 3-13-1. Professional Soccer Focus has by no means been notably impressed by the 6-foot-1 defender, although he made 93 tackles in 2021 and caught as a starter for a lot of Glenn’s second DC season.
The Saints launched Marcus Maye this offseason however reached an extension settlement with Tyrann Mathieu. The crew used rookie Jordan Hawden as a Maye fill-in throughout his injury- and suspension-marred 2023. New Orleans additionally re-signed Johnathan Abram in March. At nook, the crew added Kool-Assist McKinstry to a crew housing Marshon Lattimore and up to date Day 2 picks Alontae Taylor and Paulson Adebo. If nothing else, Harris stands to produce some depth and particular groups help for the NFC South membership.
