Cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles has departed from the New Orleans Saints in free agency, signing a contract with the Seattle Seahawks. The news was first reported on Saturday by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. While details of Jean-Charles’ deal with Seattle have not been disclosed, his departure marks the third loss in the Saints’ secondary this offseason, following Paulson Adebo and Will Harris.
Originally selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers out of Appalachian State, Jean-Charles spent his first two seasons in Green Bay. After being released during the 2023 preseason, he joined the San Francisco 49ers, where he spent a significant portion of the early season on the practice squad before appearing in five games.
The Saints claimed Jean-Charles off waivers midway through the 2023 season, and he went on to play in nine games, primarily contributing on special teams. At the conclusion of the season, New Orleans signed him to a futures contract. Despite an impressive preseason performance, he was among the team’s final roster cuts. However, he quickly rejoined the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster in Week 9 for the remainder of the season.
During the 2024-25 campaign, Jean-Charles logged a career-high 143 defensive snaps for the Saints. He recorded one interception, broke up two passes, allowed a 58.3% completion rate when targeted, and tallied 14 total tackles. It was his most productive NFL season to date, as he became an important depth player for New Orleans in both the secondary and on special teams.
To compensate for the departures of Adebo, Harris, and Jean-Charles, the Saints have signed cornerback Isaac Yiadom and safety Justin Reid in free agency, aiming to reinforce their defensive backfield for the upcoming season.
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