Four-year NFL veteran interior offensive lineman Nick Easton signed a four-year, $24 million contract with the New Orleans Saints. At the time of this posting, the exact financial guarantees are not available to the public. Easton spent the 2018 season with the Minnesota Vikings but has also spent time with the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers.
Saints plan to play former Vikings’ guard Nick Easton at center, per source, filling the hole that Max Unger’s retirement created. Easton has started at center in the past. https://t.co/uz7UxDVU53
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 18, 2019
Nick Easton, New Orleans Saints Agree to Contract
Easton spent the entirety of the 2018 season on the injured reserve after suffering a preseason neck injury. However, the Harvard product has passed various physicals and should be ready to go for the 2019 season. Easton will fill the starting center spot vacated by the recently retired Max Unger.
Easton initially arrived in the NFL as an undrafted free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft. Signing with the Baltimore Ravens, Easton was traded to the San Francisco 49ers just before the start of the 2015 season. Easton’s tenure in San Francisco didn’t last long, as the 49ers traded Easton to the Minnesota Vikings just one month into the 2015 season.
Easton spent the remainder of the 2015 season as a depth option for the Vikings. However, the Harvard product earned his way onto the field in the 2016 season. Appearing in 11 games, Easton started the final five games of the season in place of an injured Joe Berger.
Easton’s impressive play earned him a starting job on the 2017 Minnesota Vikings offensive line. Appearing at center, left guard, and right guard, Easton made a grand total of 12 starts for Minnesota. Unfortunately, an ankle injury prematurely ended Easton’s season before Minnesota’s playoff run.
Easton should come in an immediately fill in for the recently retired Max Unger. Unger initially arrived in New Orleans in the Jimmy Graham trade prior to the 2015 season. Unger appeared in 63 of a possible 64 games for New Orleans, earning a Pro Bowl nomination following the 2018 season.
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