Surprise release of Saints G Larry Warford puts 3-time Pro Bowler on open market

[wize1980]

Link - https://sports.yahoo.com/surprise-r...time-pro-bowler-on-open-market-220636405.html

One of the NFL’s best blockers hit the free-agent market on Friday when the New Orleans Saints released veteran guard Larry Warford.

The move comes as a surprise considering that Warford, 28, is coming off his third-straight Pro Bowl appearance. Teams in need of interior line help now have the opportunity to sign an impact player in his prime deep in the free-agency market.

Opportunity knocks for teams in need of interior line help. (Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Salary cap casualty?
Warford was approaching the final year of a four-year, $34 million deal and would have carried a $12.9 million salary cap hit this season, indicating that cap relief was New Orleans’ primary motivation.

The Saints drafted Michigan center Cesar Ruiz in the first round (No. 24) of April’s draft, giving the team a top talent option in the middle of the line at a considerable discount over Warford’s salary.

Warford joins a free-agent market that includes other notable names like Cam Newton and Jadeveon Clowney. That the Saints apparently couldn’t find a trade partner suggests that he won’t find nearly the same payday he was due this season. But he’ll be a valuable addition where he ends up signing.

 

[Memento]

We could've had Warford over Tavon (and the former was my prospect crush that year, for the record, as well as Stedman Bailey). That still sticks with me.

 

[Loyal]

Sounds great if we have the cash...

 

[Ram65]

The NFL's top-25 offensive linemen through Week 15

PFF's Ben Linsey sorts out the top-25 performers along the offensive line with two weeks left in the 2019 NFL season.

www.pff.com

By Ben Linsey
Dec 19, 2019
20. RG LARRY WARFORD, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Positional grade rank: 10th at guard

Warford recorded the worst overall grade of his career last season, but he has rebounded nicely in 2019 to crack the top 10 guards in PFF grade. He’s a key cog in a Saints offensive line that has been one of the best in the league this season. They rank fourth in team run-blocking grade behind the Eagles, Colts, and Cowboys, and they’ve combined to keep pressure away from Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater. The Saints have allowed a pressure rate of 24.6% in all this season (fifth-best rate in the NFL).

Larry Warford | New Orleans Saints G | NFL and PFF stats

NFL and PFF player stats for New Orleans Saints G Larry Warford on Pro Football Focus.

www.pff.com

2019 SEASON STATS
OFFENSE SNAPS PLAYED
97027th
PENALTIES
6T-16th
SACKS ALLOWED
2T-35th
* Stat rankings versus all other G.
2019 PLAYER GRADES
EDGE
OVERALL


73.1
PASS BLOCKING

RUN BLOCKING

BLOCKING
EDGEELITE

OFFENSE SNAPS PLAYED	970
PASS BLOCK SNAPS PLAYED
RUN BLOCK SNAPS PLAYED
PENALTIES	6
SACKS ALLOWED	2
HITS ALLOWED
TOTAL PRESSURES ALLOWED

 

[RamBall]

Sounds great if we have the cash...

Has Goffs contract been adjusted yet? I'm sure he wouldnt mind giving up a decent chunk to go towards Warfords deal.

 

[Ram65]

Surfing around it appears Warford has gotten slower as he added weight. He doesn't appear to be a good fit for the Rams zone-blocking which values quickness. I doubt being on lockdown is good for losing weight.

 

[SeminoleRam]

While Warford would probably (Not probably/Would Be!) be a great addition to the Rams Offensive Line(!) I just don’t see how they can afford him (Especially, with other salaries like Ramsey’s and Kupp’s that I think are coming up soon that the Rams will have to deal with!)! But, Who Knows(?), Maybe, Warford will give the Rams a huge discount so he can play for a Super Bowl contending teams?!

 

[Allen2McVay]

Has Goffs contract been adjusted yet? I'm sure he wouldnt mind giving up a decent chunk to go towards Warfords deal.

There was an adjustment but it's important to understand that Goff did not give-up any money.

Money is reclassified from salary to bonus so that its application against the salary cap can be spread-out to future years. However, it does not change the amount of money the player receives. It does not even change when the player receives the money.

 

[MadGoat]

Has Goffs contract been adjusted yet? I'm sure he wouldnt mind giving up a decent chunk to go towards Warfords deal.

If the Rams were so inclined, I believe their Bank of Donald card isn't maxxed out yet. There's about $12 mil in cap space on it.

 

[dang]

hmmmmm. very interesting. how long would it take to remove the stink of Asshole Face from him.

 

[JRobinson]

one can wish...

 

[TexasRam]

A Veteran Pro Bowler available at our greatest position of Need.

May not be quick if feet for the stretch outside zone but he will open up holes in the inside power game.

 

[FarNorth]

hmmmmm. very interesting. how long would it take to remove the stink of Asshole Face from him.

Might require a very extended quarantine...

 

[fearsomefour]

Give him Matthews money Clay hasn’t been paid yet, haha.

 

[Gandalf]

We could've had Warford over Tavon (and the former was my prospect crush that year, for the record, as well as Stedman Bailey). That still sticks with me.

I hated that trade s damn much! The night before all the rumors were circulating and I was hoping they were smoke screens. Then it happened and I damn near broke my TV.
I wanted to stay put and draft Hopkins and Warford. We needed a #1 type receiver and a guard, not a gadget type player like Austin.

 

[MachS]

Surfing around it appears Warford has gotten slower as he added weight. He doesn't appear to be a good fit for the Rams zone-blocking which values quickness. I doubt being on lockdown is good for losing weight.

And yet he's still 5X better than both our guards. This is a must add if we can get it done somehow.

 

[SteezyEndo]

So cal native San Diego...I mean he can either go to the now LA Chargers or be a Ram. Dude started every game. His resilience says enough. Stud. What can we do?

 

[oldnotdead]

Yes, his stats look good last year but look at his career stats and you see that the 2 years prior he was just average. That said he wasn't carrying a massive contract. There has to be a lot more that isn't being said. You just don't grab a gift horse without vetting that horse. He probably was in a contract year and they didn't think they could carry him. But now they have a $5M+ dead cap? But with offset because someone will sign him and then a post-June 1 designation that would bring that dead down significantly.

You have to wonder if there is a medical issue not being publicized. IMO that could very well be the reason. The same as with Gurley.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Who releases a 28yr old stud guard?

Nobody.

Is he 28? Yes.

Is he a stud? Maybe not.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

We could've had Warford over Tavon (and the former was my prospect crush that year, for the record, as well as Stedman Bailey). That still sticks with me.

I was hoping they’d pick Warford or Hopkins. Warford on one side at Guard and Saffold at the other would have been the core of a very good Oline.