The New Orleans Saints lost out on one of their biggest free agent targets as Tracy Porter spurned the team to sign with the Oakland Raiders and now the team may focus on other options, most notably free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who is weighing his future options. (UPDATE: Sources to ESPN said that Nnamdi Asomugha signed with the San Francisco 49ers.)
According to ESPN.com, the Raiders signed Porter to a one-year, $2.5 million deal, stealing him away from the Saints, who were trying to lure the former player back to his old team that he won the Super Bowl with. Porter confirmed the news to ESPN in a text message and now takes another prime player off the free agent market.
The Saints were in line to try to sign Porter and other options included Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman, although Newman decided to sign back with the Bengals after Oakland went after him. Jenkins could be another option for the team if the Raiders don't sign him as well, although Asomugha is the player the Saints covet the most.
Porter could have helped provide veteran leadership and solid cover play to a secondary that was one of the worst in the league last season. Porter has made eight interceptions during his career in the regular season, but he is most remembered in New Orleans for his pick-six of Peyton Manning that helped the Saints win the Super Bowl over the Indianapolis Colts.
Asomugha is an intriguing option for the Saints, as he possesses elite talent, but hasn't showed it over the past two seasons with the Eagles. He was released after the two sides could not come to a pay cut agreement and after visiting with the 49ers, Asomugha is reportedly deciding on playing either in San Francisco or New Orleans next year. (UPDATE: he decided on the 49ers.)
Asomugha met with the 49ers in free agency first, possibly tipping his hand (it did!), but after losing out on Porter and possibly Jenkins, the Saints may make a hard push to ensure they get Asomugha. The cornerback may feel comfortable heading to the Saints, as Rob Ryan, his former defensive coordinator in Oakland, is now the coordinator in New Orleans. Asomugha is known as a solid cover corner and that is the style that Ryan likes to play.
The Saints were ranked 31st in passing yards allowed per game with nearly 300 per contest and the team was last in the league in rushing with nearly 150 yards per game. Jenkins could help on both fronts, obviously in the passing by playing excellent coverage, but he also could help with the running defense if he keeps the wideouts from blocking on the inside. The Saints gave up way too many big plays last season and desperately want a shutdown corner to help them as coach Sean Payton returns from his bounty suspension.
