The New Orleans Saints lost another starter to free agency, with the Cincinnati Bengals agreeing to terms with strong safety Vonn Bell on a three-year contract. Bell, who played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in college, returns to Ohio just as he’s hitting his prime. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo first reported the deal, which was confirmed by Nola.com’s Amie Just.
It hurts to see the Saints miss out on a young, talented player that they’ve invested years in developing, but this move was broadcast early last week when they reunited with Philadelphia Eagles free agent Malcolm Jenkins (who was also drafted by the Saints out of Ohio State, ironically). The re-signing of backup safety D.J. Swearinger seemed to shut any door on a possible do-over with Bell.
Fortunately for him, Cincinnati should be a good fit. Bell’s style of play compliments Bengals free safety Jessie Bates, another rising star in the NFL, allowing Bates to rove around the second and third levels of the defense while Bell makes plays in the box and around the line of scrimmage. It’s not for nothing that Bell led the NFL’s defenders in fumble recoveries last season.
Bell’s departure should qualify the Saints for another compensatory draft pick in 2021, though his exact contract terms are unknown just yet. The Saints are currently slotted in for an extra third-round selection (related to Teddy Bridgewater’s contract with the Carolina Panthers) and a sixth-round pick (due to Eli Apple’s deal with the Las Vegas Raiders). It’s a strange time in New Orleans, a team that rarely stacks up draft assets, but the price often paid for building such a strong roster is that not everyone can return.
