Edwards reveals his immediate commitment to the Saints, driven by internal intel and a clear vision for his role.
Free agent offensive lineman David Edwards did not have that difficult a decision in free agency. He knew where he wanted to go. Edwards wanted to play guard for the New Orleans Saints.
The move is not going to command a ton of headlines but it's a big deal for an offense that was deficient in most if not all position groups. Now the guard position is addressed.
NOLA.com staff writer Matthew Paras discussed Edwards' quick decision to sign with New Orleans in free agency. Paras wrote the following.
"David Edwards didn’t need to speak with anyone from the New Orleans Saints before he agreed to join the franchise on a four-year, $61 million deal in the opening hour of NFL free agency.
The NFL changed its rules for its legal tampering period so that free agents like Edwards could formally chat with other teams up to an hour before the start of the league's new year. Previously, teams could only communicate with a player’s representative.
But no such call was necessary. Edwards had already done his homework.
The former Buffalo Bills guard had spoken with numerous people with ties to New Orleans over the years, helping him get a good sense of what to expect with his new team. He remembered, for instance, what former teammate — and now assistant coach — Will Clapp said about working with coach Kellen Moore and offensive line coach Brendan Nugent. He knew the way former college teammate Ryan Ramczyk raved about the city. Aaron Kromer, Edwards’ former offensive line coach in Buffalo and a longtime New Orleans assistant, also gave a glowing review of the franchise."
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III finds an opening and follows guard David Edwards during second half action. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesCertainly, any new free agent signing can say anything to ingratiate himself to his fanbase. Still, Edwards' statement seems genuine, and it speaks to the growing confidence that is being fostered by current head coach Kellen Moore and quarterback Tyler Shough. That Edwards needed minimal conversation to sign with the Saints is a positive sign for how the franchise is perceived outside of New Orleans.
There is still work to do as the Saints build toward a postseason run. New Orleans won four of its last five games, but the strong finish only elevated the team to a 6-11 record on the year.
The Saints will need to prove they can sustain success over time to receive the benefit of the doubt as a playoff team. That said, the team is closer now to the postseason than they were when the offseason ended. Edwards will look to help the team get over the next hurdle when the team takes the field again in September.