NFL teams
Mike Triplett, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Sources: Paul Kruger to visit Saints, Chiefs after release by Browns

NFL, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs

METAIRIE, La. -- Paul Kruger has already found at least a couple of interested suitors in the wake of his surprising release by the Cleveland Browns.

The veteran pass-rusher is scheduled to visit the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday, according to a league source. He then will visit the Kansas City Chiefs, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

It's a logical move for the Saints, considering they made a strong push to sign Kruger back in 2013, before he signed his five-year, $40.5 million contract with the Browns. Saints coach Sean Payton labeled the pass rush "very concerning" after his team's preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday.

The Saints traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for backup pass-rusher Chris McCain on Monday.

Kruger, 30, became expendable in Cleveland because the Browns are in long-term rebuilding mode, and he was slated for more of a part-time role in 2016 under a new coaching staff. The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder had a solid three-year run in Cleveland, but it wasn't as dynamic as his contract suggested. He had 4.5 sacks in 2013, 11 in 2014 and 2.5 in 2015, with his numbers suffering from his move from the strong side to the weak side.

Kruger wound up making $27 million in three seasons in Cleveland, and he expressed his frustration with his release on Monday on social media.

"My experience has been amazing and I will miss wearing a Browns #99," Kruger wrote. "Although completely miss handled, unfortunate and absolutely the wrong decision to release me I do wish the Browns and especially my teammate brothers great success."

Kruger's peak season came in 2012 with the Baltimore Ravens. He had nine sacks in the regular season and 4.5 more in the postseason, including two in Baltimore's Super Bowl win.

The Saints, meanwhile, have been in the market for pass-rush help since March. That need became even greater when they lost second-year edge rusher Hau'oli Kikaha to a knee injury in the summer.

Third-year pro Kasim Edebali is currently penciled in as the Saints' starting weak-side end opposite Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan on the strong side. Edebali has shown promise, with five sacks last year and two more in this year's preseason opener at New England. But without naming any specific positions, Payton hinted Monday morning that the Saints would take a hard look at other options around the league.

"This next 10-day period, there's gonna be some good football players that shift from one team to another via a lot of different ways, be it from trade, be it waiver claims and/or free agency," Payton said.

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