Saints Land Aubrayo Franklin

Aubrayo Franklin has reportedly signed with the New Orleans Saints.

Franklin was a favorite free agency target of Kansas City Chiefs fans. He was widely believed to be the best free agent nose tackle on the market. Since the Chiefs have a great need at NT after losing veteran Ron Edwards in free agency, it seemed like a match made in heaven for Franklin and the Chiefs.

Looks like it wasn’t meant to be.

Some opponents of a Franklin signing claimed he likely wanted too much money and a long-term deal. While we don’t know how much the Saints are paying him yet, it appears Franklin signed a one-year agreement with the Saints.

Ironically, Franklin is the second player that has been swiped away from the clutches of KC Chiefs fans.

You may remember, before the NFL lockout, former Browns NT Shaun Rogers became a free agent. The Chiefs brought him in for a visit but in the end, Rogers signed with the Saints.

Now there was never any indication that the Chiefs were “after” Franklin but as I said, he was a fan favorite.

Rogers and Franklin will now make up the interior line of the Saints’ 4-3 defense. The Chiefs did manage to nab Kelly Gregg so things might still turn out alright for them in the NT department. Still, it has to get under the skin of chiefs fans when they see that the Saints stole what many believed to be KC’s best two NT prospects.