The New Orleans Saints are set to acquire former Birmingham Stallions and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr., according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Austin is slated to sign a one-year contract and is expected to join the Saints’ upcoming training camp.
Austin, aged 24, spent three collegiate seasons at Notre Dame, concluding in 2021. During this period, he amassed 54 receptions, totaling 996 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. His most impressive season was in 2021, when he recorded 48 catches for 888 yards and seven touchdowns.
Following his collegiate career, Austin entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. Despite making Jacksonville’s initial roster cuts, he was subsequently signed to their practice squad. After the season, Austin secured a reserves/futures contract with the Jaguars but was released again before the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
During the recent spring season, Austin played for the Birmingham Stallions in the United Football League, contributing significantly to their success. The Stallions finished with a 9-1 record and clinched the UFL Championship by defeating the San Antonio Brahmas. Austin’s performance included 15 receptions for 253 yards and two touchdowns.
Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 200 pounds, Austin will now compete for a roster spot with the New Orleans Saints, a team that ranked 14th in total offense and 11th in passing production last season. This offseason, the Saints made coaching changes by replacing longtime assistant Pete Carmichael with Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator.
In New Orleans, Austin joins a wide receiver corps featuring returning players such as Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and A.T. Perry. Additionally, the Saints bolstered their receiving options by signing Cedrick Wilson, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Stanley Morgan Jr. in free agency. They also drafted rookie fifth-round pick Bub Means and signed undrafted rookies Mason Tipton and Jermaine Jackson.
Kevin Austin Jr. arrives in New Orleans with a chance to showcase his skills and earn a role in the Saints’ offensive plans for the upcoming season. His journey from college standout to NFL hopeful underscores his determination to succeed at the professional level, aiming to contribute to the Saints’ offensive success under new coaching leadership.
