Saints Re-Sign LB Andrew Dowell

New Orleans brings back a key member of their special teams unit and linebacker depth.

The New Orleans Saints have re-signed LB Andrew Dowell, in an announcement by the team on Monday. 

The 26-year-old Dowell will be entering his fifth year with New Orleans. He played collegiately at Michigan State, where he had over 260 total tackles, 16 stops for loss, 6 sacks, and an interception over four seasons. After not being selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, Dowell was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. He was released at the end of training camp with an injury designation.  

The Saints added Dowell midway through the 2019 campaign and re-signed him to a Futures Deal at the end of the season. He'd spend most of the year on the practice squad, but saw his first active roster game in the 2020-21 season finale at Carolina. 

Dowell has appeared in 33 of 34 games for New Orleans over the last two years. Most of his action is on special teams, but he played 20 defensive snaps in 2021. Dowell has 22 career tackles. He blocked a punt against New England in 2021 and forced two fumbles last season. 

November 27, 2022; New Orleans Saints linebacker Andrew Dowell (50) before a game against the San Francisco 49ers. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY

Linebackers Demario Davis and Pete Werner are entrenched as starters and make up one of the best duos in the NFL. The team lost LB Kaden Elliss this offseason in free agency after a breakout 2022 campaign. 

D'Marco Jackson, a 2022 fifth-round pick, Ty Summers, Zack Baun, Nephi Sewell, and Ryan Connelly join Dowell as the other linebackers on the current New Orleans roster.