AP

The Saints’ bid for a defensive turnaround will include defensive tackle Kevin Williams.

New Orleans announced on Friday afternoon that they have signed the former Viking and Seahawk lineman to a one-year deal. There were reports that Williams visited with the team last month and will presumably join them at next week’s mandatory minicamp.

Williams spent the first 11 years of his career with the Vikings and racked up a slew of Pro Bowl and All-Pro mentions on his way to being named to the second-team on the league’s All-Decade team for the 2000s. He spent last season in Seattle and had 30 tackles and three sacks while seeing action in all of the team’s games.

Glenn Foster and Broderick Bunkley have been dealing with injuries during the team’s offseason program, leaving them with a short-term need for healthy bodies. In the long term, Williams should improve the team’s depth up front at the very least as they try to rebound from last year’s dismal showing on the defensive side of the ball.