One New Orleans Saints cornerback settled his future on Thursday, when starting nickel corner P.J. Williams agreed to re-sign with the Saints on a one-year contract extension. But one of his teammates had a very different experience.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that an agreement on a contract between Eli Apple and the Las Vegas Raiders fell apart, so Apple will again hear offers from interested teams as an unrestricted free agent. That’s the danger in reaching verbal agreements without having anything in writing, but the cash-strapped Raiders’ reluctance to hand out signing bonuses this offseason may have also played a factor. The previously-reported terms of their agreement surrounded a one-year deal valued at $6 million, which would have qualified the Saints to receive a sixth-round compensatory draft pick in 2021.
Now, Apple will have to see which teams are interested in teaming up with him. The 24-year-old free agent turned in a solid performance last season until he was asked to handle number-one coverage responsibilities after injuries struck the secondary. He was repeatedly penalized in his last few games before a late-season injury sidelined him; when the Saints claimed Janoris Jenkins off of waivers, there wasn’t room for Apple to start anymore.
That’s probably still the case, but we can’t rule anything out with the Saints salary cap mathematicians. They could use more depth behind Jenkins and Marshon Lattimore, and Apple’s background as an outside corner compliments Williams’ set of skills (as a slot specialist) well. If Apple is willing to return at the right price, the Saints could do much worse than bringing him in to pad out the depth chart.
