New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata started the 2019 offseason on a bad note. Per Nick Underhill and Ramon Vargas of the Advocate, a New Orleans apartment belonging to Onyemata was raided in late January. The Advocate reports that the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office found marijuana, cannabis oil, marijuana edibles and hemp powder on the premises, and Onyemata was cooperative with law enforcement throughout the investigation. He was cited with a misdemeanor.
This couldn’t come at a worse time for Onyemata. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Saints and is expected to start in place of injured standout Sheldon Rankins in the middle of the Saints’ defensive line. It’s too soon to know what kind of suspension could be handed down from the NFL, if any.
If Onyemata does end up suspended, it may put pressure on the Saints to more seriously consider re-signing nose tackle Tyeler Davison, who is a pending free agent. While Onyemata and Davison play different roles in the defense, it’s important to have some continuity in place there while Rankins works back from his Achilles injury. It also wouldn’t be surprising for the Saints to target defensive linemen in free agency or the draft.
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