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The 2014 NFL offseason is officially underway, and the Detroit Lions have already made a move by claiming safety Isa Abdul-Quddus off waivers. He was actually waived by the New Orleans Saints nearly a month ago, but he wasn't awarded to the Lions via waivers until Monday.
Abdul-Quddus entered the NFL in 2011 as an undrafted free agent out of Fordham. He played in 16 games for the Saints during his rookie season, and he finished with 16 tackles, 1 pass defense and 3 forced fumbles. In 2012, he actually made three starts for the Saints, and he had 45 tackles, 7 pass defenses and 2 interceptions. This past season, he appeared in only 11 games and had only 13 tackles and 1 pass defense.
When Abdul-Quddus was let go in January by New Orleans, Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins was surprised by the move. From NOLA.com:
"He's someone that's very very smart and knows the defense, plays his role well," Jenkins said. "He came in last year and this year when we needed him too, played significant snaps and did a great job. I think it was a little surprising for most guys, especially in our room, but that's just how this business goes."
Abdul-Quddus is actually set to become a restricted free agent this offseason. Assuming the Lions retain him, chances are he will primarily play on special teams, but he could also serve as one of their primary backups at safety considering he's got some starting experience.
