Free agent linebacker Paul Kruger has reportedly reached a deal with the New Orleans Saints. After meeting with multiple teams this week, Kruger has decided to sign with the Saints. That’s according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
Linebacker Paul Kruger Signs With the New Orleans Saints
Back in 2013 before Kruger signed a five-year, $40.5 million deal with the Cleveland Browns, the Saints attempted to make a strong push in order to land the pass-rusher.
The now former Browns linebacker visited with both the Saints, as well as the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday following his release from Cleveland. Now that Kruger is apparently signing with the Saints, the Chiefs will have to look for help elsewhere when it comes to filling in for the injured Justin Houston.
The Saints push for a legitimate pass-rusher intensified when they lost Hau’ oli Kikaha to a torn ACL in which he suffered earlier this spring. Plus the Saints team’s play this preseason has been less than an impressive considering they’re missing a lot of pieces on defense.
Not only have the Saints reportedly signed Paul Kruger, but they also traded for Chris McCain this week. The Saints hope to have both players up to speed with what they’re trying to do defensively in time to help apply pressure on Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in Week One.
Kruger, 30, is coming off a 2015 season in which the linebacker only recorded 2.5 sacks and twenty-seven tackles. He did, however, record career-high in sacks with 11 in 2014. Despite being released by Cleveland, Kruger still believes he has a lot left in the tank, and he’s set on providing it.
Kruger was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second-round of the 2009 NFL Draft out of the University of Utah. After spending four years with the Ravens, where he helped Baltimore win a Super Bowl title, Kruger signed a five-year deal with the Browns in 2013, but in 2015 saw his production begin to slip, and Cleveland found him expendable.
For Kruger’s career, he has 196 tackles, 33.5 sacks and two interceptions.
Main Photo:
