Saints sign LB Craig Robertson

This offseason is starting to feel like the 2012 version when the Saints signed three veteran linebackers in Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorne and Chris Chamberlain. Craig Robertson is the latest signing, joining Nate Stupar and James Laurinaitis. Nick Underhill broke the news:

Source: Saints sign LB Craig Robertson https://t.co/WXAXAv48dk

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) March 22, 2016

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That’s a lot of linebackers in one offseason and clearly the Saints were intent on stockpiling during this free agency period. This allows the Saints to focus on the defensive line, guard and possibly receiver in the NFL draft at the end of April.

How did the Saints afford Robertson, you ask? That, I have no idea. The Saints had less than $1.5 million in cap space before the Laurinaitis signing. That signing hasn’t made it across the official NFL ticker yet, presumably because the Saints can’t afford him. Many have theorized cap space could be on the way in the form of a Drew Brees extension but negotiations are apparently ongoing. Perhaps more likely is the $1.67 million in cap space coming from declining to match an offer sheet for Josh Hill with the Bears will help make room. I would say Hill is good as gone now that the Saints have both Coby Fleener and Michael Hoomanawanui in tow.

Robertson is a nice add to a linebacking core that now has depth and competition. He’s view as a solid coverage guy who has 6 interceptions in 4 seasons and an underrated player stuck on a bad team. He had 99 tackles in 2014. Where he’ll play for the Saints remains to be seen, but I’m really liking the competition they have going at linebacker with Stupar, Laurinaitis, Anthony, Robertson and Ellerbe. Don’t forget Davis Tull and Michael Mauti, either.