Justin Hardee has agreed to a three-year deal with the Jets, per source.
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) March 16, 2021
The New York Jets swept in and reached an agreement with New Orleans Saints free agent Justin Hardee on a three-year contract, as first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. Hardee has been a core player on the special teams units for New Orleans, and he’ll be tough to replace.
Initially entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie wide receiver, Hardee found his way to the Saints and was converted to cornerback while earning his roster spot with exceptional play in the kicking game.
And that’s where he’s risen to prominence as one of the league’s best in covering punts and kickoffs. His efforts were instrumental in keeping the Saints punt unit top-tier in recent seasons, sometimes drawing double coverage from opponents when he proved too tough to cover. He’ll be missed in that phase of the game as well as the locker room, where he’s been a popular teammate.
With Hardee out the door and other top special teams contributors like Craig Robertson and Alex Anzalone headed for free agency, it’s vital that the Saints find new athletes who can chip in to the game’s third phase. They got off to a good start by agreeing to terms with Carolina Panthers fullback Alex Armah, who has logged 800-plus snaps in the kicking game in his career.
