re: Vonn Bell to Bengals on 3 yr deal

Outgoing free agents

3/16. Linebacker A.J. Klein: three years, $18 million. Klein gets a pay raise to join his old coach, now with the Buffalo Bills. It would have been nice for the Saints to re-sign him but not at this price. Klein’s departure would recoup a sixth-round selection in 2021 if the Saints qualify for any compensatory picks in next year’s draft. New Orleans must look for linebacker depth elsewhere with two projected starters (Alex Anzalone and Kiko Alonso) returning from season-ending injuries.
3/17. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater: three years, $60 million. Bridgewater is finalizing a contract with the Carolina Panthers, where he will start in replacement of Cam Newton (who the Panthers have begun seeking to trade). It’s a great opportunity for Bridgewater even if he’ll be joining a rival team in the NFC South. This loss would qualify the Saints for a third-round compensatory draft pick in 2021.
3/18. Cornerback Eli Apple. Apple will join the Las Vegas Raiders, where he should start right away on the back end. His contract terms are not known just yet, but he figures to have been well-compensated.
3/19. Wide receiver Keith Kirkwood. It would have cost the Saints next to nothing to keep Kirkwood around, but the third-year pro lands in a friendly offense and coaching staff on a division rival. Because he was designated as an exclusive-rights free agent, Kirkwood will not factor into the compensatory draft pick formula.

Now Bell

Incoming free agents

3/18. Safety Malcolm Jenkins: four years, $32 million. Jenkins returns after spending the last six seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, joining the team that first drafted him. He’s a big addition who brings welcome experience to a still-young Saints secondary, mentoring safeties Marcus Williams and C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
3/20. Fullback Michael Burton: one year. Burton is an experienced veteran who should be seen as the favorite to win this job in training camp, where he’ll compete with a younger teammate in Ricky Ortiz. Burton spent the 2019 offseason with the Saints and is already familiar with their offensive system.
3/20. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders: two years, $16 million. Sanders is the exact sort of receiver the Saints needed to add; a polished route runner who does his best work on timing-based plays, working in rhythm with his quarterback. The fact that he’s coming from one Super Bowl-contending rival (the 49ers) and chose the Saints over a few others (the Packers and Cowboys) only adds icing to the cake.

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