Larry Warford reportedly wants $7 million in 2020 in free agency
By Matt Conner
NFL reporter Ian Rapoport says Larry Warford wants $7 million in free agency to sign with a new team after his recent release.
In one of the bigger surprise moves of the offseason, the New Orleans Saints set Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford free via his release shortly after the 2020 NFL Draft. Now NFL reporter Ian Rapoport says that Warford has set his financial expectations near what he was going to count against the salary cap for the Rams.
“My understanding is he wants to make about $7 million or roughly what he was supposed to make before the Saints released him. Remains to be seen though, at this point in May, if he’s actually able to get that,” says Rapoport.
The Saints saved $7.75 million against the cap with the release of Warford, which was made possible after drafting University of Michigan lineman Cesar Ruiz in the first round of the draft. Ruiz was largely considered the best interior lineman available in the draft class, but it was still surprising to see the Saints so willing to cut a player who has made the Pro Bowl over three straight seasons so easily.
The Chiefs were reportedly in on the Saints other starting guard, also a multi-year Pro Bowler, in Andrus Peat. The Saints ended up re-signing him to a five-year, $57 million deal in free agency, but Warford is certainly a nice consolation prize who could come without anything close to the commitment netted by Peat.
It’s also possible the Chiefs feel just fine about their interior after the draft in which they selected Lucas Niang. The TCU tackle is likely a future bookend as Eric Fisher and/or Mitch Schwartz get older and more expensive, but the front office also spoke confidently about Niang’s ability to slide inside in year one and contend for a role at guard. If he plays well enough, Niang could be targeted as a potential long-term fix at left guard in 2020.
Given the restructuring of Laurent Duvernay-Tardif‘s deal, it’s hard to imagine the Chiefs would pursue another starter after also drafting Niang. However, Warford is the sort of unexpected surprise that could upend previously made plans. It will be interesting to see who ends up calling on him and where his price lands in the end.