Report: Saints, Roman Harper agree to contract extension
Saints safety Roman Harper agreed to a contract extension. He is guaranteed $4 million this season. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The New Orleans Saints and safety Roman Harper agreed to a contract extension on Friday, reports NFL.com.
Harper was originally supposed to make $5.25 million next season, with $2.6 million of it guaranteed. Instead, he will get $4 million guaranteed for 2013, providing the Saints some cap relief in the upcoming years. The new deal also all but guarantees that Harper will make the team.
Harper's place on the Saints was not secure, especially when the team drafted Kenny Vaccaro in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Harper, an eight-year veteran, had 115 total tackles and two interceptions in 2012.
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The contract is believed to have added a year on to Harper's current contract, providing some cap relief for the Saints. Harper's future beyond 2013 remains uncertain; the same is true for fellow safety Malcolm Jenkins. Harper's skill set includes blitzing and playing tough near the line of scrimmage. That should work with what defensive coordinator Rob Ryan wants to accomplish much better than how Harper fit with Steve Spagnuolo last season.
