Saints give Smith $26 million guaranteed

By Neal Coolong  |   Saturday, June 14, 2008  |  Comments( 10 )

New Orleans Saints
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The Saints signed DE Will Smith to a six-year, $70 million contract extension that includes $26 million in guaranteed money.

The contract makes Smith the third-highest-paid defensive player in the league, behind Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney and Minnesota's Jared Allen. Smith, the 18th overall selection in the 2004 draft, has 33.5 sacks in 62 career games.

Commentary: Smith missed some of the team's offseason workout program, but did show up for OTAs and a mandatory minicamp.

Fantasy Impact: Considering the amount of money that's been given to Smith and DE Charles Grant, the Saints are right to expect a much-improved pass rush in 2008. An increased presence in the opposing backfield should help New Orleans' struggling secondary.
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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one...
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