Possible Free Agent Linebackers for the New Orleans Saints
It’s doubtful that any NFL analyst will regard this offseason as “dull” and “predictable” for the league. The recent draft was a well-publicized event that gave the fans a preview of who we may see on the field in September. Every team’s roster is continuously changing and is receiving almost up-to-the-minute media coverage. The decision of veteran players as to whether or not to return for another season remains a significant and unpredictable variable. In the case of the New Orleans Saints, their recent week involved the unforeseen news of losing veteran player Tyrann Mathieu due to his decision to retire from the league. The signing of his replacement, Julian Blackmon, will result in more skepticism from the fans and require answers from the staff members who made that decision. While they’re handling that topic, let’s make their jobs a little easier by suggesting a couple of free-agent linebackers from the same rival team within their division to add to their roster.
Cam Gill is currently playing for the Carolina Panthers. His rookie and second years, starting with the 2020 season, were in Tampa Bay, where he played the position of linebacker. Mr. Gill’s next two seasons would result in playing 25 games during which he would have 11 solo tackles, assist with six tackles, and three hits to the quarterback. He would be out for the entire 2022 season due to an injury that sidelined him about two weeks before their first regular-season game. When he returned for the 2023 season, he would play as an outside linebacker for 15 games and add to his stats five solo tackles, assist with seven tackles, and one hit to the quarterback. For the recent season in Carolina, Mr. Gill would remain an outside linebacker. As a result of playing 10 games, he recorded six solo tackles, 16 assisted tackles, and four hits to the quarterback.
Chandler Wooten is also currently playing for the Carolina Panthers. He has played as a linebacker his entire professional career within the league, starting with the 2022 season. Mr. Wooten’s rookie season had him playing in nine games during which he was limited to assisting with one tackle. Wooten would return for the 2023 season to play eight games and add to his stats two solo tackles and assists with five tackles. For the third and most recent season in Carolina, he would start in two of the five games he played during which he drastically increased his numbers to 14 solo tackles and assists with 16 tackles. At this rate, this 26-year-old has the potential to continue to show the coaches what he is capable of. Hopefully, those coaches will be in New Orleans from whom he will learn from for many years.
