As waivers cleared after the second wave of roster cuts, the New Orleans Saints landed a new cornerback option to help build out their secondary depth: former Las Vegas Raiders fourth-round pick Decamerion Richardson.
A Louisiana native, Richardson now joins his home state team, an opportunity that few NFL players get the chance to experience and one that the corner isn’t taking for granted.
“I can’t explain it,” said Richardson, a native of Cullen, La. and graduate of Bossier High School. “Coming back home, getting to play for the home team, there’s nothing like it. Like a dream come true.”
The Saints have made it a habit as of late, bringing Louisiana players back to their home state. It’s become a common practice over the last few years. Of course, the fit with the system, team and locker room are among the core deciding factors while their childhood address is mostly coincidence, but it sure doesn’t hurt.
The opportunity is a special one for any player hailing from Louisiana and this was no exception. It wasn’t just Richardson was excited about being claimed by the Saints either. His family is looking forward to attending game days in New Orleans, a mere four-hour drive away.
“They were happy,” Richardson said. “They can come see my games whenever they want. That far (as Las Vegas) they couldn’t really come to every game how they wanted to.”
Primarily a physical, man coverage corner in college, Richardson has a lot of scheme versatility that he developed over time with the Raiders. He believes his fit with defensive coordinator Brandon Staley will develop quickly thanks to his exposure to the system in Las Vegas.
He called the two systems similar, but with the usual shift in vocabulary that typically accompanies any change of scenery for a player.
Since arriving, he’s leaned on fellow SEC cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Martin Emerson Jr. Richardson and Emerson were teammates for two years while with Mississippi State.
Richardson, 25, brings his 6-foot-2, 188-pound frame and 4.34-second 40-yard dash speed to New Orleans to help provide much-needed depth on the perimeter. He’ll focus more on both sides of the boundary in Staley’s defense rather than playing in the slot.
Though, it’s clear that he’d be willing to do whatever’s asked of him, Richardson’s excited to get the chance to suit up, representing the team he grew up supporting.
