The New Orleans Saints issued the lowest restricted free agency tender to cornerback Ken Crawley, per multiple reports. Nick Underhill of the Advocate first reported the move. This tender is a one-year contract valued at a fully-guaranteed $2.025 million. It assures the Saints the right to match any contract offers Crawley receives from other teams, should they choose to do so. They just won’t earn any compensation should he leave.
Crawley was a promising starting-caliber cornerback whose confidence seemed to shatter early in the 2018 season. His poor performance prompted the team to draw up a trade with the New York Giants for Eli Apple, revamping their defense and vaulting them into the thick of the playoff picture. Still, Crawley has several seasons’ worth of starting experience behind him and should at worst compete for a spot on the depth chart behind starters Marshon Lattimore, Apple, and Patrick Robinson.
As for the Saints’ other restricted free agents, they reached a deal on a five-year extension with kicker Wil Lutz and opted to let each of their other candidates test the market. That includes defensive back Rickey Jefferson and wide receiver Tommylee Lewis.
