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Two weeks after being released by the Detroit Lions, free agent safety Louis Delmas has been drawing a bit of interest around the league. With the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints all reported as potential landing pads, Delmas has already been making the rounds. After visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, he met with the Saints on Thursday. If there is a real mutual interest, he will likely stick around and be wooed through Mardi Gras weekend.
After missing five games in 2011, and half of the 2012 season, Delmas played every game for the Lions in 2013, finishing the season with 64 tackles, two sacks and his career-high three interceptions. The New Orleans defense could certainly use a talent free safety who might reel in a few more interceptions, and likely wouldn't balk at whatever information the former Lion might offer in a season where the Saints play the NFC North. However, Delmas has a degenerative knee condition that will likely never improve, and has only played one full season in his five-year career.
One of the few free agents who could sign a contract before March 11, given his release prior to the 2014 NFL year, Delmas is not likely in a hurry to sign a contract as he makes the rounds and gauges his value. If the Saints sign him based on an eight game valuation, he may be a great addition to an improving defense. With the current cap situation, however, New Orleans can't afford to overpay for someone whose medical history will likely rear its head again in 2014.
The interest in Delmas lends support to the idea that the Saints are not interested in paying a premium to re-sign safety Malcolm Jenkins, who is a free agent this year. Rumors are already circulating that the Atlanta Falcons are interested in picking up the 26-year-old Saints safety, even while they are supposedly wary of the injury history with Delmas. Jenkins has also been linked to the Philadelphia Eagles as a potential destination, should he leave New Orleans.
After releasing Roman Harper, the Saints have also been linked to free agent corner-back Captain Munnerlyn as a potential means of shoring up the New Orleans secondary.