After playing for the Detroit Lions for his first five NFL seasons, Will Harris is moving to the Big Easy. The NFL Network reports that Harris and the New Orleans Saints have reached an agreement on a one-year contract.
In an effort to strengthen one of its shortcomings from the previous campaign, Harris is the most recent departure from the Lions’ secondary. Over the previous three seasons, under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, the versatile defensive back showed some progress, but he was frequently the victim of big plays by the opposition.
In the last three seasons, when Harris has been targeted by opposing quarterbacks, they have completed at least 71% of those throws; last season, while Harris was a cornerback, they achieved a career-high percentage of 78%. When passing to Harris in 2021, quarterbacks completed 58 of 79 attempts for 732 yards and five touchdowns.
General manager Brad Holmes revamped the secondary with the addition of two cornerbacks, Amik Robertson and former Super Bowl winner Carlton Davis II, to start the Lions’ free agency period. Additionally, they extended Emmanuel Moseley’s contract by one year.
The Lions continued to strengthen their secondary last week at the Detroit 2024 NFL Draft, drafting two cornerbacks in the first two rounds. In Round 1, they selected Terrion Arnold of Alabama by trading up from selection No. 29 to No. 24. In Round 2, they selected Ennis Rakestraw Jr. of Missouri with choice No. 61.
With the departures of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cameron Sutton, and Jerry Jacobs, the secondary acquisitions were important. Gardner-Johnson chose to sign a three-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles, while Sutton was cut by the Lions after just one season due to information about an event that occurred off the field.
Harris finished with 246 total tackles, 14 pass deflections, 4 quarterback hits, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles (all recovered) in his 81 games played while starting for Detroit.
With pick No. 81 (third round) of the 2019 NFL draft, the former Boston College defensive back was chosen by the Lions.
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