The biggest offseason need for the New Orleans Saints is tight end. No position lacks as many difference-makers anywhere else on their roster. Josh Hill is a fine sidekick, but the Saints haven’t had a true superhero there since trading Jimmy Graham away so many years ago. Ben Watson had some good years but was very much at the end of his career. Youngsters Dan Arnold and Garrett Griffin didn’t get it done when their numbers were called in the playoffs.
So, naturally, the Saints would be expected to be in on many of the free agent tight ends available this offseason. The trouble is many of those free agents might end up being significantly overpaid. The Baltimore Ravens threw a wrench in everyone’s plans by signing third string tight end Nick Boyle to a three-year contract extension, as first reported by Dan Graziano of ESPN. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, that contract is worth a total of $18 million with $10 million guarantees, and makes him the NFL’s 15th-highest paid tight end on a per-year basis. Which, good for him.
The problem is that Boyle has never scored a touchdown in the NFL. He’s gained just 613 yards in 49 games with the Ravens, including a single postseason appearance. And when thrown to, he averages a mere 8.2 yards per catch — effectively useless in the passing game, and limiting him to filling in as a (very good) blocking specialist. That’s an important role but not one that should draw such high contract figures.
And worse for the Saints, it’s going to inflate the value of every other free agent tight end. If Boyle is drawing $6 million per year from the Ravens, how much will a comparable talent in Pittsburgh Steelers backup Jesse James get? Just how highly-paid will Jared Cook, the consensus top free agent, be as he leaves the Oakland Raiders? The Saints could struggle to find anyone worth adding at their own price after the Ravens went and overpaid one of their own.
This is a new, unexpected wrinkle for free agency that will make the busy opening days of the signing period that much more compelling. Stay tuned for the Saints’ next move.
