The New Orleans Saints lost another free agent on Wednesday, per Jerry McDonald of The Oakland Tribune. McDonald reports that Saints cornerback Eli Apple agreed to terms on a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders; ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed the news that Apple will be signing with the silver and black.
It’s something of a big loss for the Saints, even if Apple’s last few games soured his reputation in fans’ memory. Apple played more snaps than any other Saints cornerback last year and was reliable in coverage for much of the season, only really struggling once asked to handle number-one coverage responsibilities when Marshon Lattimore went out with a hamstring injury mid-season.
It’ll be fascinating to see what kind of contract Apple earned from the Raiders, both for compensatory draft pick considerations and to gauge his interest on the open market. The Saints originally acquired Apple in a trade with the New York Giants, exchanging a fourth-round draft pick and a seventh-round selection, but they could recoup some of that lost value in the 2021 draft depending on what he’s earned.
Oh, and don’t forget — the Saints and Raiders are scheduled to play next season in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
