Saints offseason overview: Defensive backs

METAIRIE – The defensive backfield is the area of the New Orleans Saints that has kept the front office the busiest this offseason.

The Saints signed former Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins for a second stint after Vonn Bell entered free agency, rejected a contract offer and later signed with Cincinnati.

The Saints agreed to a new contract with cornerback Janoris Jenkins, effectively choosing him over Eli Apple, who is a free agent that agreed to terms with Las Vegas before that deal fell through and is back on the open market.

They also re-signed backup safety D.J. Swearinger, backup cornerback P.J. Williams, cornerback/special teams standout Justin Hardee and former XFL cornerback Deatrick Nichols.

And they probably aren’t done. The team could still had depth in free agency, or more likely, in the draft where special teams ability is important.

The most significant move was the return of Jenkins, who was a No. 1 draft choice by New Orleans in the first round in 2009, played on the Super Bowl team as a rookie and played five seasons before going to Philadelphia as a free agent.

Head coach Sean Payton has said that letting Jenkins leave was the biggest mistake he has made with the Saints and he repeated that sentiment when Jenkins re-signed last month.

“It kind of feels like everything’s coming full circle and obviously with the success that the team has had in the last few years, being able to come back and just help push the team just with that one more step that I think it needs to be back in that Super Bowl again,” Jenkins said of his decision to return.

“I think I’ve grown tremendously (since leaving New Orleans) – mainly because I think I figured out what it is I do best and what roles those are. I think I have a better understanding of how to do that in a defense and coaches I think have allowed me to excel in that role. I think I’ve grown a lot just from learning the game, but also learning (about) myself.”

Jenkins said he values his role as a leader, which also expanded during his team with the Eagles with whom he won another Super Bowl.

“I think early in my career it was really knowing the defense and being able to get guys lined up so that we were all on the same page,” Jenkins said, “and I think over the years it’s taken the next step to where, you know, I’m able to get guys in positions to make plays, not just get lined up in our defense, but to be able to put them in a spot where they can make a play.”

Williams, a third-round draft choice of the Saints in 2015, showed his versatility last season when injuries pressed him onto duty at safety and nickelback.

“Ultimately, I just feel like that’s the best fit for me,” Williams said. “I’ve been there five years, this is about to be my sixth year. I love it there.

“You’ve got great coaches, it’s a great situation, a great chance to compete for a championship, which is ultimately the goal, and just being comfortable. We’ve got a good group, I feel like they’re doing a good job of keeping most of us together and also adding some good pieces.”

Hardee called the opportunity to return “a blessing” and like Williams cited a chance to win a championship with three-time reigning NFC South champions.

“I would not want to be anywhere else,” he said. “There is unfinished business.”

Swearinger signed with New Orleans as a free agent in mid-December and said he’s looking forward to having an offseason to catch up.

“As soon as I got to New Orleans last year, I felt the culture, I felt the camaraderie, I felt everybody was on one page and one accord,” he said.

Nichols said he too was attracted by the championship potential in New Orleans.

“I love their culture that they have,” Nichols said. “They look like a team that believes in executing their jobs and everything like that. They take practice serious and everything like that from the outside looking in and attention to detail.”

“They want guys that execute, that believe in the system, that basically do their jobs. That’s the type of guy that I feel like I am. I don’t care about who gets the credit and everything like that. (All that matters) is all 11 doing their jobs. I feel like I’m a perfect fit for it.”

In addition to playing cornerback, Nichols said he played a variety of special teams in the XFL – “kickoff, gunner, kickoff return, punt return, … not just field goal.”