Paul Kruger to Saints: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The New Orleans Saints and veteran pass-rusher Paul Kruger agreed to a contract Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.

Kruger, 30, was released Aug. 29 after three seasons with the Cleveland Browns. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, per Triplett, that the deal is for one-year, $3 million but worth up to $5 million with incentives.

Kruger reacted to his move after word of his signing emerged:

Signed to be an anchor of the Browns pass rush from the rival Baltimore Ravens, Kruger had a disappointing career in Cleveland. He recorded just 18 sacks over three seasons despite being healthy, 11 of which came in a promising 2014 campaign. In 2015, Kruger consistently struggled on his way to a 27-tackle, 2.5-sack season.

"Although completely miss handled [sic], unfortunate and absolutely the wrong decision to release me I do wish the Browns and especially my teammate brothers great success," Kruger said on Twitter.

Kruger was just the latest in a series of veteran cuts for the Browns, who have revamped their roster-building philosophy under Sashi Brown. The VP of football operations has stripped the roster nearly bare of long-term veteran commitments in favor of youth and short-term deals with vets.

Kruger was originally due a $6.5 million base salary that would have been guaranteed if he were on the Week 1 roster.

With seven years of NFL experience under his belt, it's only fair to call Kruger inconsistently effective. Nearly 60 percent of his 33.5 career sacks have come in two seasons (2012, 2014). Over the other five campaigns, he's averaged fewer than three sacks per year. Even if we wipe out his first two years, when he was largely a backup, Kruger's median production rate is around a handful of sacks per year.

For a guy whose effectiveness is almost solely reliant on his ability to bring down the quarterback, that's not promising. When the Browns were paying him at a near-Pro Bowl rate, you could understand the disappointment and desire to see if a young player could step in.

But in a situational role—which he'll likely play in New Orleans—this could be a good fit.