{"id":59999,"date":"2019-03-04T18:52:09","date_gmt":"2019-03-04T23:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=59999"},"modified":"2021-03-20T16:21:44","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T20:21:44","slug":"manti-teo-option-texans-rams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/03\/04\/manti-teo-option-texans-rams\/","title":{"rendered":"Eager Manti Te\u2019o Is an Under the Radar Option for Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manti Te\u2019o is now hoping to sign his third contract, but injuries and 37 missed games in 6 seasons may serve as a deterrent for those interested.<\/em><\/p>\n

Inside Linebacker <\/span>Manti Te\u2019o<\/b><\/a> is a free agent entering his seventh season in the NFL, looking to finally make a breakthrough in the league. Since his scandal-filled, Heisman-nominated senior year at Notre Dame, Te\u2019o started with the San Diego Chargers<\/a> in 2013. There, he never completed a full season due to multiple foot and knee injuries and the Chargers were 19-19 when he was active.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2017, Te\u2019o signed a two-year, $5 million deal with the New Orleans Saints<\/a>, and even though he made it through his first season uninjured, by the 2018 season, Te\u2019o was hit with a minor injury again that saw him fall down the depth chart, as by Week Seven he began becoming a healthy, inactive bench player for the NFC Championship-bound team.<\/span><\/p>\n

Te\u2019o is quoted as telling the New Orleans Times-Picayune, \u201cThe best thing about this whole situation (in New Orleans) \u2026 is that it made me self-evaluate…that little extra [motivation] is that thing that reminded me of what it took to be the best before I got here. And I know that I can be that for somebody. Whether it\u2019s (in New Orleans) or whether it\u2019s somewhere else, if they don\u2019t know (now), they\u2019ll know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So far, Te\u2019o has amassed 313 tackles and 22 for losses in his career. However, Te\u2019o is no longer a younger player in need of development or entering his first or second contracts; he is now a 28-year-old free agent looking for a third deal without having made much of a splash so far in his professional career. He only has four quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and two interceptions, none of which came after his third season. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some of what Te\u2019o can bring, however, is experience. He has played his entire career in 3-4 systems, the first four seasons including his best statistical year (2015) coming with current Houston Texans<\/a> Senior Defensive Assistant Coach John Pagano<\/strong> as Defensive Coordinator. His linebackers coach in 2015, Mike Nolan<\/strong>, joined Te\u2019o in New Orleans in 2017, when he appeared to come out and start well under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen<\/strong>\u2019s system. Still, despite spending most of last season on the bench, Pro Football Focus ranked his Week One performance of four solo tackles for no gain in the Saints\u2019 Top 10 defensive outputs of the year. <\/span><\/p>\n

Between ex-Chargers Head Coach Mike McCoy<\/a><\/strong>, Saints Coach Sean Payton<\/a><\/strong>, and the aforementioned Allen, Nolan, and Pagano, there are numerous coaches around the league with similar systems that Te\u2019o could play for. For example, as a former head coach Nolan has employed new New York Jets<\/a> coach Adam Gase<\/strong> and new Arizona Cardinals<\/a> Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph<\/a><\/strong>, and McCoy<\/a> spent last year in Arizona as the Offensive Coordinator for now-Cleveland Browns<\/a>\u00a0Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks<\/strong>. Plus, spending two years with the defending NFC South champion Saints could attract division rivals (like the Atlanta Falcons<\/a> and Carolina Panthers<\/a>) or Super Bowl hopefuls (like the Minnesota Vikings<\/a>, Green Bay Packers<\/a>, and Los Angeles Rams<\/a>) to sign him just to gain insight on the competition, if anything.<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, it\u2019s no guarantee that Te\u2019o is signed within the first month of the league year. After spending half of his career to this point on sidelines, Te\u2019o wants to be on the field as much as possible, and it\u2019s unclear what price tag will sway his mind or satisfy him to possibly accept less playing time. Teams also offer very low guaranteed amounts to players with the history of injuries and limited experience as Te\u2019o has. In addition, this year\u2019s draft is stuffed with top front seven prospects and the free agency market is crowded as well. Fellow inside linebackers <\/span>C.J. Mosley<\/b>, <\/span>Jordan Hicks<\/a><\/b>, <\/span>Denzel Perryman<\/a><\/b>, <\/span>Preston Brown<\/a><\/b>, <\/span>Kelvin Sheppard<\/a><\/b>, <\/span>Kwon Alexander<\/a><\/b>, and <\/span>Ray-Ray Armstrong<\/a><\/b> are also free agents still on the market. That doesn\u2019t bode well for Te\u2019o, who may be competing for a training camp spot come this summer. However, his agent Tom Condon<\/a><\/strong> is recognized for his ability to negotiate player-favoring deals and has a lot of points on his side to use. <\/span><\/p>\n

As of now, the Saints are retaining 3 other inside linebackers – \u00a0<\/span>Demario Davis<\/a><\/b>, <\/span>Alex Anzalone<\/a><\/b>, and <\/span>A.J. Klein<\/a><\/b> – so it appears Te\u2019o will be moving on somewhere else to find success and acclaim in the NFL, which is a storyline that sums up this off-season for many others. I don\u2019t believe we have seen all the Hawaiian native has to offer, and I\u2019m sure we haven\u2019t seen the last of him. Teams close his San Diego residence like Arizona or the LA Rams, or playoff-ready like the Texans or Eagles should come calling by April.<\/span><\/p>\n

References:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.nola.com\/saints\/2018\/11\/healthy-manti-teo-enjoying-saints-win-streak-from-the-sidelines.html?outputType=amp<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.westhawaiitoday.com\/2019\/02\/28\/sports\/free-agent-to-be-teo-eager-to-disprove-doubters\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/pff_saints\/status\/1102329147630718984?s=21<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/free-agents\/all\/inside-linebacker\/available\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

http:\/\/walterfootball.com\/freeagents2019ILB.php<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>