Generally, the NFL teams bring a coach to mold the present roster at the building, or bring some new faces to strengthen it. But in the New Orleans Saints’s case, the franchise gave HC Kellen Moore a blank slate to craft his team. A team, which is to be set up around Moore. And it seems, Moore has not only picked up the chalk to fill the empty slate, he has also started jotting down who he wants and who he doesn’t. Let’s talk about the first!
Kellen Moore’s team had a player who couldn’t escape injuries in almost 60 percent of his body. Foot, shoulder, calf, knee, chest and toe injuries – all limited this first round pick of the Saints to 31 games. And if we talk about only the 2024 season, this defensive end has played in just 16 games. We are talking about none other than Payton Turner, who is the new interest of Jerry Jones’s Dallas Cowboys.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz on X, “The #Cowboys are expected to sign former #Saints 1st-round DE Payton Turner.” Last year, Turner recorded 21 tackles, two sacks, three quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and four passes defensed in total. Although the man has never started a regular-season game in his NFL career, him serving as a rotational defensive end makes a positive factor about him. For instance, last season in Kellen Moore’s team, he played 674 defensive snaps and 290 on special teams, showing off his versatility.
Sources: The #Cowboys are expected to sign former #Saints 1st-round DE Payton Turner. pic.twitter.com/nNQ8r75PFT
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 11, 2025
But is that enough for the Cowboys to make this decision? Especially, when they have already added many names from the free agent list than their 2024 record. Well, yes, it might be. Turner is a young defensive end with veteran experience, plus his versatility will help the America’s Team in filling their DE void.
Apart from Payton Turner, Jones signed RB Javonte Williams for a year ($3 million) deal, DT Solomon Thomas for two-years ($8 million), and G Robert Jones for one year, $4.5 million. Jerry Jones’s list has now increased to four free agents, after Turner. So, does this collection seem aggressive? Jerry Jones doesn’t think so!
The Cowboys’s owner said, “I don’t think aggressive is the right word. I wouldn’t call us really void in any area… If you include what we’re going to do in the draft, I wouldn’t see that… I’m not looking at free agency as a place to fill voids.” At least now we know that Jones is not filling the roster with free agents, he might be seeing some potential in this newly-minted America Team’s boys. In addition, with his statement it’s also clear that Jones will be also focused in the NFL Draft of this year, with a hope to get a potential star. Until then, they are happy to take Turner away from Kellen Moore’s team.
No worries, Kellen Moore is taking double shots!
The Saints are just loading in! On Tuesday, Kellen Moore reworked safety Tyrann Mathieu’s contract ending a longtime confusion. And just a few hours later to this agreement, safety Justin Reid’s impending arrival news popped up. Reid joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. Since then, he has sky-rocketed in his career. The stats reveal it all!
In his all 59 games with the franchise, including the playoffs, Justin Reid recorded the most defensive snaps (3,575) since 2022. Let us tell you that this score, posted by Ried, is the highest among all safeties in the league. Isn’t it interesting? Anyway, the safety is now expected to sign a three-year, $31.5 million deal with Kellen Moore’s team. With this, he would be getting $22.5 million fully guaranteed. Along with him, the Saints also signed another free agent this time.
TE Juwan Johnson is returning to the Saints. In 2020, he was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent wide receiver out of Oregon. But that time’s coach, Sean Payton, made the decision to switch his role to a tight end next year. Then what? The athlete found himself catching only four passes as a rookie wideout. Now at present, he has agreed to a three-year contract worth of $30 million with the same team. His contract reportedly includes over $21 million in guarantees.
And you know what? Kellen Moore’s team crowned Johnson as the 11th highest paid TE in the league. Congratulations to the guys!
The post NFL Rumors: Jerry Jones Wants Saints’ 1st Round Star as Kellen Moore Signs Justin Reid and Juwan Johnson appeared first on EssentiallySports.
