The New Orleans Saints finally made good on their plan to reunite with a former tight end. Although they missed out on Jimmy Graham, who went to the Green Bay Packers, they have signed another ex-Saint in Benjamin Watson to a one-year deal, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports.
Veteran TE Ben Watson has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Saints, source said. He recently visited there.
Watson visited the Saints on Tuesday after also visiting the Kansas City Chiefs a few days earlier.
Watson, 37, spent three years with the Saints from 2013-15, recording 113 catches for 1,187 yards and 10 touchdowns during that span. A bulk of those numbers came during his surprising career year at age 35 in 2015 as he had 74 catches for 825 yards and six touchdowns.
Watson left that offseason to join the Baltimore Ravens on a two-year deal. Unfortunately, he missed all of the 2016 season after tearing his Achilles. But despite suffering that serious injury in his mid-30s, he was able to bounce back last season as he played all 16 games and had 61 catches for 522 yards and four touchdowns.
Even at 37, Watson should give Saints quarterback Drew Brees a much more reliable receiving option at the tight end position compared to what he had to work with last season. Coby Fleener, Josh Hill, and Michael Hoomanawanui combined for just 62 catches for 472 yards and four touchdowns from the tight end position last year.
Although, Watson is highly unlikely to come close to matching his amazing 2015 season. Apart from his advancing age, the Saints will likely lean more on their dynamic backfield duo of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara on offense.
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