Saints GM addresses signing of TE Foster Moreau

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has insisted the club signed tight end Foster Moreau for reasons that go beyond giving the locker room an emotional boost. 

"Well first of all, we brought him in because he’s a good player — versatile, well-rounded tight end," Loomis said of Moreau while speaking with reporters at the Saints Hall of Fame Golf Classic, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. 

As noted by Grant Gordon of the NFL's website, Moreau received a diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma as a result of a physical with the Saints in March. Moreau temporarily put his playing career on hold, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t Nick Shook) reported last week the 26-year-old was signing a three-year deal with the Saints worth $12M with $8M in guaranteed money. 

Loomis said the fact Moreau is originally from New Orleans and played his college football with the LSU Tigers "really had nothing to do with" the decision to sign him. 

"And that’s emotional to come take a physical and discover something that’s unexpected," Loomis said regarding what Moreau experienced earlier this offseason. "I know that’s tough on him and his family. And yet, they handled it so beautifully. And the great news is that the prognosis is good and even the treatment protocol that he’s under is going to allow him to do some things in this offseason, and hopefully play in the fall." 

Moreau spent his first four NFL seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders and had new New Orleans starting quarterback Derek Carr as his QB1 for the majority of that time. Across 15 games during the 2022 campaign, Moreau tallied 33 receptions for 420 yards and two touchdowns. 

"...When you hear the diagnosis and you immediately think [about], A, his well-being — football becomes secondary," Loomis added about Moreau. "And then as it goes along and you get good news and hear optimism, that part of it is really exciting." 

While it's still early days as it pertains to Moreau's long-term health, Loomis sounded hopeful the free-agency acquisition will be able to contribute in a meaningful way this summer and, hopefully, against a live defense as early as Week 1 in September.