The New Orleans Saints learned that one of their starters will test the free agent market in March: defensive end Alex Okafor. Per a report from Nick Underhill of the Advocate, Okafor’s contract will void automatically on the final day of the NFL’s 2018 fiscal year, March 12.
As Underhill explains it, this was due to a slight modification in Okafor’s contract. Okafor eclipsed a three-sack benchmark in 2018, activating his player option for the 2019 season. That required him to deliver a written decision on whether he would play out his contract or void it on March 12. But when the Saints paid him a $400,000 bonus after he narrowly missed a big incentive for sacks, Okafor’s representatives must have made his intention to leave clear. So the Saints agreed to rewrite that section of his deal, rendering it void automatically rather than requiring action on his part.
This was a smart move. It resolves any suspense for the Saints and frees them up to proceed and plan for free agency without wondering what Okafor will do. They would probably like to have him back in 2019, but this allows Okafor to see what other options are on the table. It keeps everything transparent for all parties involved and maximizes the opportunities for both Okafor and the Saints.
It also opens the door for Marcus Davenport to win a starting job in his second season, having taken a backseat to Okafor as a rookie. Underhill also reported that Davenport’s recent surgery was to correct a turf toe condition on his right foot (grade three), an injury that should have ended his season. These injuries, while serious, can take months to heal but he should be back around full strength by the time team activities ramp up over the summer. For now, the only able-bodied defensive ends the Saints have on their roster are Cam Jordan and Trey Hendrickson.
