Saints Reach One-Year Deal With Jimmy Wilkerson
By admin
The New Orleans Saints have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson, Marc Lillibridge of National Sports Agency, which represents Willkerson, announced.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
A sixth-round pick (189) out of Oklahoma by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2003 NFL Draft, Wilkerson (6-2, 270) started five of his 72 games with the Chiefs between 2003-07, totaling 94 tackles and a quarterback sack.
Wilkerson signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008, and has started 16 games over the last two seasons, including all 15 he was active last season. Wilkerson has totaled 69 tackles, including 11 quarterback sacks over the last two seasons in Tampa.
Wilkerson, 29, is coming off a torn ACL, but is expected to be cleared for contact by August.
The Saints added Alex Brown, but were in the market for additional depth at defensive end considering the uncertainty surrounding Will Smith's "StarCaps" suspension. The Saints released Charles Grant, and Bobby McCray and restricted free agent Jeff Charleston are the only defensive ends besides Smith and Brown on the roster.
Wilkerson visited the Seattle Seahawks last week.