Jonathan

Casillas

Casillas played roughly half of the defensive snaps last season while also serving as a special teams dynamo. The cap-strapped Saints can save $667,000 by using the original pick tender as opposed to the second-round level. Since Casillas was undrafted in 2009, however, New Orleans is leaving itself susceptible to offer sheets that would net them no draft pick compensation.

Casillas did draw interest from the Titans, but couldn’t land a starter’s contract. With David Hawthorne and Curtis Lofton now in New Orleans, Casillas will go from starter to relatively high-priced special teamer.

Casillas received an original-pick tender, giving the Saints the right of first refusal if he signs an offer sheet, but no draft compensation since he was an undrafted free agent. This will be Casillas’ first visit of free agency. New Orleans could be inclined to let Casillas walk after signing David Hawthorne and Curtis Lofton.

Witherspoon is due a pricey $3.5 million and has been replacement level at best as a starter the past two seasons, but Casillas doesn’t project as more than a reserve and special teamer. Witherspoon could end up facing competition in the form of a draft pick.

The move gives the Saints the right of first refusal on Casillas, who originally signed as an undrafted free agent. He’ll be in line for roughly $1.26 million if he signs his tender. The Saints are saving $667,000 by tendering Casillas at the original-round level instead of the second-round level, but will receive no draft-pick compensation if he signs elsewhere and they choose not to match.

Casillas made five starts last season, but is out of the mix for first-string duties this year after all of the Saints’ offseason linebacker moves. Injury prone, Casillas is behind Scott Shanle and Will Herring on the strong side.

Hawthorne pulled his hamstring in the first half of last week’s loss to the Chiefs. Hawthorne’s backup Jonathan Casillas (neck) has also been ruled out, leaving the Saints with a depleted LB corps of just Curtis Lofton, Scott Shanle, Will Herring and Barrett Ruud. Ramon Humber is eligible to return after serving a three-game NFL suspension, however, and could be activated as late as Saturday.

There’s no mention of Adam Hayward. Watson is an interesting candidate because he was such a good blitzer at Florida State, and the Bucs will be able to blitz a lot more with Darrelle Revis in the secondary. Casillas still might be a superior option based on experience and cover skills at SAM ‘backer.

Casillas played 256 snaps at outside linebacker last season, but may no longer be a fit in New Orleans with the Saints shifting to a 3-4 defense. Casillas is injury prone, but appeared in 14 games in 2012. Going on 26, he could draw some interest in the second wave of free agency.

The deal is worth “up to” $3 million, so it’s probably incentive laden. Bucs GM Mark Dominik loves stealing from division rivals, and 26-year-old Casillas has flashed every-down tools in spurts the past four seasons. In 2012, he was the Saints’ nickel ‘backer and recorded 31 tackles in 14 games with one start.