Saints reportedly work out receiver Rueben Randle, guard Jahri Evans
The New Orleans Saints are looking to add to their wide receiver depth chart and worked out Rueben Randle on Tuesday, according to Sean Fazende of WVUE FOX 8. They also worked out guard Jahri Evans, according to ESPN.
Randle, a second-round pick by the New York Giants in 2012, was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent this offseason, but he was among those released during roster cuts. Randle enjoyed moderate success catching passes from Eli Manning in New York, but despite Philadelphia’s issues at wide receiver, he did not make the team.
The Eagles were unimpressed with Randle’s showing in the preseason, and released him after giving the receiver a one-year, $1.025 million “prove-it” contract this offseason. Randle made some plays in training camp, but he didn’t seem to show hustle or an overabundance of effort in live preseason action.
“I feel like I get read wrong because I do a lot of things naturally and it doesn’t seem like I’m giving much effort,” Randle said prior to his release. “If I go out there and make a one-handed catch and make it look effortless, I get praised for it, but if I do all these other things effortlessly, it’s like I’m not giving much effort.”
Evans, a six-time Pro Bowler with the Saints, was released by the team in February and joined the Seattle Seahawks for a brief stint before he was ultimately released. Evans has slowed down in recent years but it’s looking like the Saints are open to his return, at the right price, provided his visit on Tuesday went well.
Playing in every single game since he was drafted, Randle has been very consistent, putting up 600-plus yards in three of his four seasons, with a career best 938 yards in 2014. In 64 career regular season games, he has 188 receptions for 2,644 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Drew Brees, quarterback for the Saints, has made magic with under-performing receivers in the past and New Orleans could wind up being an excellent landing place for Randle. The Saints currently have five wide receivers on the depth chart.
