The most important domino is set to tip over for the New Orleans Saints, who are working on a contract extension with long snapper Zach Wood. ESPN’s Field Yates first reported news of the expected deal, which NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill noted is being actively negotiated. Wood’s agent, Mike Abadir, confirmed that nothing is finalized just yet.
Wood is an important piece of the Saints special teams unit, and has already received the highest praise a long snapper can earn in that few fans know his name. He rarely makes mistakes and has a strong rapport with both kicker Wil Lutz and punter Thomas Morstead, each of whom are under contract through 2022. Keeping that trio together would be huge for sustained success in the game’s third stage.
More importantly, Wood is the reigning two-time champion of the home run derby during the annual Black and Gold Celebrity Softball Game. He’s a common sign at charity events off the field and around the facility and is the kind of player the Saints would be fortunate to keep in the building. Because he is a pending free agent for the Saints, he can sign a contract as soon as it’s on the table — players leaving other teams must wait until the new league year begins on Wednesday. So stay tuned for news of the deal’s completion.
