The New Orleans Saints emerged as one of the strongest teams in the NFL last season, winning a competitive NFC South division before coming up just one play short of the NFC Championship game. After three straight 7-9 seasons, the Saints went 11-5 in 2017 after an incredible draft that overhauled their secondary and made their running game one of the most prolific in the league.
One of the few areas of weakness on the roster was at the tight end position. Coby Fleener led the team in receiving yards by tight ends in 2017, but he didn't even crack 300 (finished with 295 and a pair of touchdowns). To be fair, his season was cut short by a brutal concussion against the Los Angeles Rams, but he still wasn't a regularly featured part of the offense.
The Saints' offense was still a well-oiled machine with their talent on the outside and the pass-catching abilities of running backs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, but adding an efficient tight end would make them even more dangerous. After failing to lure back former standout Jimmy Graham (who signed with the Green Bay Packers), New Orleans hosted veteran Benjamin Watson on Tuesday, per ESPN's Field Yates.
The 37-year-old spent three seasons with the Saints from 2013 to 2015 before signing with the Baltimore Ravens. After missing all of 2016 with a torn Achilles tendon, he made 61 receptions for 522 yards and four touchdowns last year. Watson spent the first six years on his career with the New England Patriots before signing a three-year deal with the Cleveland Browns.
In his three seasons with the Saints, Watson compiled 113 catches, 1,187 yards, and 10 touchdowns. He's not a long-term solution for the franchise, but as they try to capitalize on this window before Drew Brees hangs up his cleats, Watson would be an interesting addition for New Orleans in 2018.
Follow Us
Subscribe