Jairus Byrd to Sign with Saints
Published at(NEW ORLEANS) — The Saints didn’t waste any time at the start of free agency, agreeing to a six-year contract with free agent safety Jairus Byrd.
Byrd, who spent his first five NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills, will receive $54 million from the Saints with $28 million guaranteed.
“We had hoped for the opportunity to pursue Jairus Byrd,” Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said in a statement. “After meeting with him, we are excited that he will become a member of the New Orleans Saints. We think that his play-making abilities will be an excellent fit with what we are trying to accomplish with our defense and in our secondary.”
Byrd, a second-round pick of the Bills in 2009, has been selected to three Pro Bowls. His nine interceptions as a rookie were tied for the most in the NFL that season.
The Bills slapped the franchise tag on Byrd in 2013, but the two sides were unable to work out a long-term contract. They decided not to use the tag on Byrd again this offseason and allowed him to test the open market.
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