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With the loss of four Saints defensive veterans yesterday, draft alarms have been sounding throughout the Who Dat Nation. Particularly with Jabari Greer out of the picture, it has been said that cornerback just became the team's top priority. The Saints need someone to replace the ten-year veteran, and it seems GM Mickey Loomis is already looking to secure some options.
Saints CB Trevin Wade signed a 1-yr, $570k contract this week. Wade was an exclusive rights free agent.
— Brian McIntyre (@brian_mcintyre) February 14, 2014
After Greer went down with a torn ACL, having landed awkwardly after breaking up a pass during the first quarter of a 23-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, he was immediately replaced in the starting lineup by second-year player Corey White. White, a physical corner who has shown some promise in his young career, immediately stepped up with an interception in the second quarter of the same game -- though he wound up fumbling the ball through the end zone for a touchback during his return.
When the Saints officially placed Greer on IR two days after his injury, the team replaced him on the roster with second year corner Trevin Wade. A 2012 seventh-round pick out of the University of Arizona by the Browns, Wade appeared in the final two regular games with New Orleans, and both playoff appearances last month.
Jabari Greer had one interception and twelve pass defenses before his season was ended in the tenth game of 2013. White ended the season with one interception and seven pass defenses, plus two forced fumbles (and one recovery). Trevin Wade saw limited snaps in the final two games of the 2013 season, and broke up one pass in the 42-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also appeared in the postseason, and recorded a special teams tackle when he flipped Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin during a kickoff return.
Although there is little chance of knowing how likely Wade is to make an impact in 2014, at least the Saints are keeping some pieces in play as they look to revamp their cornerback corps behind Keenan Lewis this offseason.