Former Lions defensive back agrees to one-year deal with Saints
Will Harris is heading to The Big Easy after spending his first five NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions. According to the NFL Network, Harris has agreed to a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints.
Harris is the latest departure from the Lions’ secondary as the franchise aims to address one of its weaknesses from last season. Although he showed some growth under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn over the past three seasons, the versatile defensive back often found himself on the wrong end of the opposition’s big plays.
Over the past three seasons, opposing quarterbacks completed at least 71% of their passes when targeting Harris, with last season reaching a career-high of 78% while he played cornerback. In 2021, quarterbacks completed 58 of 79 attempts when throwing in Harris’ direction for 732 yards and five touchdowns.
The Lions kicked off free agency with general manager Brad Holmes revamping the secondary by adding a pair of cornerbacks, signing former Super Bowl champion Carlton Davis II and Amik Robertson. They also re-signed Emmanuel Moseley to a one-year extension.
During last week’s 2024 NFL draft in Detroit, the Lions continued to bolster their secondary, selecting a pair of cornerbacks in the first two rounds. They traded up from pick No. 29 to No. 24 to select Alabama’s Terrion Arnold in Round 1, and in Round 2, they picked Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. with pick No. 61.
The additions to the secondary were crucial given the departures of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cameron Sutton, and Jerry Jacobs. Gardner-Johnson opted to return to the Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year deal, while the Lions released Sutton after just one season following details regarding his involvement in an off-the-field incident
During his time in Detroit, Harris started in 40 of the 81 games he played, accumulating 246 combined tackles, 14 pass deflections, 4 quarterback hits, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles (both recovered).
The Lions selected the former Boston College defensive back with pick No. 81 (third round) of the 2019 NFL draft.
