Saints add defensive end Spence, XFL INT leader Nichols

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says the club has agreed to free-agent contracts with defensive end Noah Spence and XFL interception leader Deatrick Nichols.

The 6-foot-2, 251-pound Spence returns to the Saints after first joining New Orleans for the final three regular season games of 2019 and one playoff game.

The four-year veteran out of Eastern Kentucky began his NFL career when Tampa Bay selected him in the second round of the 2016 draft. His rookie season, when he had 5 1/2 sacks remains his best yet.

He played his first three season with the Bucaneers and played about half of last season with Washington. He has played in a 41 career regular season games, during which he has 7 1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles.

Nichols spent part of 2020 playing cornerback for the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks and intercepted three passes before the season was shortened after just five games.

The former South Florida player was not drafted but was signed as a rookie free agent by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. He was on the Cardinals’ regular season roster for six weeks that season and played in two games. He also spent the 2019 offseason and preseason with the Cardinals, but was released before the regular season.