Left tackle Terron Armstead has been protecting New Orleans Saints quarterbacks since 2013.
Since then, he hasn’t played an entire regular season but made the Pro Bowl from 2018 to 2020.
He’s a huge reason the likes of Drew Brees, Taysom Hill, and Jameis Winston had some success in The Big Easy.
But as Brees and head coach Sean Payton moved on, so too did the 30-year-old offensive lineman from Illinois when he signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Miami Dolphins.
Unfortunately, the Saints couldn’t match that figure given their salary cap limitations.
New Orleans’ loss is Miami’s gain as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa gets more protection upfront.
In some ways, Armstead’s departure marks a period of transition for the Saints.
Elite left tackles rarely hit the free-agent market and the Dolphins are very fortunate to get a player of his caliber.
But while he will be moving teams, Armstead had one final message for the Saints and its fans.
New Orleans!! I LOVE YOU FOREVER!!
⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ Thank You!!! 💙— T. Stead 🎤🎧 (@T_Armstead72) March 23, 2022
It’s a short but substantial tweet that summarizes his appreciation for the franchise that gave him an opportunity.
After his stint at HBCU Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the Saints drafted him in the third round of the 2013 draft.
Aside from being a three-time Pro Bowler, he also made it to the Second-Team All-Pro in 2018.
Tagovailoa Has No Excuse
As Armstead joins the Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa should have more time executing the plays of new head coach Mike McDaniel.
Aside from Armstead, Miami also brought in guard Connor Williams from the Dallas Cowboys on a two-year, $14 million deal.
Those two players should improve the pocket around Tagovailoa, buying him more time to throw or bolt out for a run.
If all goes well, the Dolphins might break their six-season playoff drought.
Leave a Reply