Larry

Warford

Warford is a three-time Pro Bowler and reportedly had multiple offers on the table when he made this decision. Warford will be a top free agent target next offseason. In the meantime, Warford plans to be starting a family and train at home. The Saints released him after selecting Michigan G/C Cesar Ruiz in the first round of 2020 NFL Draft.

The Houston Chronicle reports the Texans are also interested. Warford’s release came from a position of strength for the Saints. He remained effective in 2019, so it is not surprising he is quickly developing a market. Warford figures to come off the board within a week or two.

Warford’s fate was sealed when the Saints used a first-round pick on G/C Cesar Ruiz last month, giving New Orleans a new interior line of LG Andrus Peat, who was re-signed to a five-year deal in March, C Erik McCoy, and RG Ruiz, with veteran Nick Easton as the top reserve at all three spots. There just wasn’t room for Warford at his inflated salary. The move clears $7 million in cap space for the annually-cap strapped Saints. Warford graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 30 guard out of 82 qualifiers last season. He turns 29 next month and should quickly land on his feet.

Warford is headed into the final year of his deal and scheduled to collect over $8 million in salary and bonuses while the Saints can clear $7.75 million in cap space by releasing him. He turns 29 in June and was Pro Football Focus’ No. 30 guard among 82 qualifiers last season. One of Ruiz or 2019 second-rounder Erik McCoy is going to play center, and the other is going to have to move to guard. The Saints re-signed LG Andrus Peat to a five-year deal last month.

$5.5 million of Warford’s $7.65 million salary has been converted to a bonus that can be prorated across the final two years of his deal. The maneuver frees up $2.75 million in space for the cap-strapped Saints.

Warford fell to the turf while blocking on a run play, and he stayed on the ground for upwards of a minute before being helped off by the training staff. The No. 65 overall pick was unable to return to action. Coach Jim Schwartz doesn’t think it’s a shoulder injury, but said the team will “err on the side of caution.”

To date, Warford is the highest draft pick to sign. The former Kentucky Wildcat is a true power-blocking road grader at 6-foot-3, 332 pounds. Warford was expected to be selected higher than he was, and he even drew interest from the Rams with the No. 30 overall pick. The Lions may have gotten a steal in the third round. Warford is permanent-markered in as the starting right guard.

“It gave everybody a little bit of scare when anybody goes down, but he bounced back from it quickly,” coach Jim Schwartz said. “He could have gone through everything, but we limited him to just individual today.” Warford will be fine for OTAs when they kick off next week.

We’d call him the heavy favorite. After drawing interest from the Rams at No. 30, Warford will be competing with journeyman Dylan Gandy and 2012 practice-squader Rodney Austin. Something will have gone wrong if Warford doesn’t win.

The Lions want third-round rookie Larry Warford to win the job, but he’s going to have to earn it. Gandy, Leroy Harris and Jake Scott all bring vast NFL experience to the competition. Warford has spent OTAs on the second team.