The New Orleans Saints have shifted gears and begun signing players to reserve/future contracts to add to their 2021 roster, with the first being former linebacker Wynton McManis, per the NFL wire. McManis won the CFL Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders in 2018, having gone north of the border after signing with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted rookie out of Memphis back in 2016.
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because McManis has signed with the Saints before. The Olive Branch, Miss. native joined them for the final week of training camp last summer after New Orleans released veteran linebacker Nigel Bradham and once the CFL canceled its 2020 season in light of to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s some of what I wrote of him at the time:
That said, he has the skills to make a splash. McManis broke out in 2019 with 15 starts and 86 combined tackles, including nine stops on special teams. He cut his teeth in the CFL with his efforts in the game’s third phase, having paced the league with 25 special teams tackles in 2018. If he’s going to earn a spot on the Saints roster, it’ll come with big moments in the kicking game.
