Former Michigan star signs with Saints
Donovan Peoples-Jones, a former standout wide receiver from Michigan, has signed with the New Orleans Saints, providing him a new opportunity to revitalize his career. Drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns in 2020, Peoples-Jones has played in 58 games, registering 122 receptions for 1,895 yards and eight touchdowns. The Saints, facing a quarterback conundrum following Derek Carr's unexpected retirement due to a shoulder injury, are in the process of determining their future starter among Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, and Jake Haener. This signing addresses New Orleans' need to enhance their wide receiver corps, giving Peoples-Jones a chance to showcase his college prowess. Evan Massey, a seasoned sportswriter, highlights this development as a significant move for both the player and the team amidst ongoing roster adjustments.
Context:
Donovan Peoples-Jones, a former standout wide receiver from Michigan, has signed with the New Orleans Saints, providing him a new opportunity to revitalize his career. Drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns in 2020, Peoples-Jones has played in 58 games, registering 122 receptions for 1,895 yards and eight touchdowns. The Saints, facing a quarterback conundrum following Derek Carr's unexpected retirement due to a shoulder injury, are in the process of determining their future starter among Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, and Jake Haener. This signing addresses New Orleans' need to enhance their wide receiver corps, giving Peoples-Jones a chance to showcase his college prowess. Evan Massey, a seasoned sportswriter, highlights this development as a significant move for both the player and the team amidst ongoing roster adjustments.
Dive Deeper:
Donovan Peoples-Jones, a Michigan Wolverines product, was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but his professional career has been inconsistent, with 122 catches for 1,895 yards and eight touchdowns over 58 games.
On Monday, it was reported by New Orleans journalist Nick Underhill that Peoples-Jones has signed with the New Orleans Saints after participating in a rookie camp workout, presenting a fresh chance to reinvigorate his NFL journey.
The New Orleans Saints are currently navigating a complex quarterback situation following Derek Carr's unexpected retirement due to a serious shoulder injury, leaving the quarterback position open for competition among three young talents: Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, and Jake Haener.
The signing of Peoples-Jones addresses the Saints' pressing need to bolster their wide receiver lineup, providing him an opportunity to impress and secure his place by leveraging the skills that made him a formidable player during his college days.
Evan Massey, a veteran sports journalist with extensive experience covering college football, the NFL, and the NBA, underscores the significance of Peoples-Jones' signing as a strategic move for both the player and the team as they seek to enhance their roster amid ongoing transitions.
The Michigan Wolverines have churned out a lot of NFL content in recent years. Each and every year, there is a large new crop of talent from the storied college football program heading to play on Sunday's.
Back in the 2020 NFL Draft, wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones was one of those talented prospects. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 187 overall pick in the sixth round. Since then, his career has not gone quite according to plan.
In the five seasons he has played in throughout his young career, Peoples-Jones has appeared in 58 total games. He has caught 122 passes for 1,895 yards and eight touchdowns.
On Monday, Peoples-Jones received another opportunity to jumpstart his career. He was reportedly signed by the New Orleans Saints.
New Orleans reporter Nick Underhill was the first to report the signing.
"The Saints are signing WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, according to a source," Underhill wrote on X. "He worked out at rookie camp this weekend."
Of course, the Saints have been dealing with a major situation at the quarterback position. Derek Carr surprisingly announced his retirement from the NFL due to a serious shoulder injury. Now, the team will need to figure out who their starting quarterback is going to be in 2025.
Right now, New Orleans is going to let its three young quarterbacks compete. Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, and Jake Haener are the current competitors in the competition.
Adding more talent at wide receiver was a need for the Saints. Whether or not Peoples-Jones will work his way onto the roster or not remains to be seen, but he has an opportunity to show off the skills that made him such a dangerous weapon during his college career at Michigan.