Report: Saints negotiating to bring back Jahri Evans
Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans has been an anchor on the New Orleans Saints' offensive line for the past nine seasons, but with the team sitting at least $20 million over the projected 2015 salary cap of $143 million, his future is far from certain right now.
The Saints were initially prepared to release Evans, but are now negotiating with his camp to figure out how to bring him back next season, according to Katherine Terrell of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
The two sides have discussed the possibility of Evans taking a pay cut, Terrell reports. The 31-year-old is set to earn $7.5 million in salary and bonuses in 2015 with a cap hit of $11 million. In 2016, he's owed $8.7 million in salary and bonuses with a cap hit of $10.2 million.
The Saints have told Evans' camp that an outright release is still on the table, according to Terrell. The team could also decide to shop Evans to another team or leave his contract untouched.
Evans said in December that he would prefer to remain with the Saints.
"(The front office) will figure a way to figure it out. That's what those guys get paid to do," Evans said. "I don't see myself going anywhere."