AP

The Saints, in their perpetual effort to fix a defense that lacks playmakers, are getting the first crack at former Browns pass-rusher Paul Kruger.

According to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com, Kruger will visit the Saints today, amid interest from other teams (including, almost certainly, the #MysteryTeam).

The Chiefs would be next on his quick free agency tour, if the Saints let him out of the building.

The Saints tried to sign Kruger in 2013, before the Browns blew him away with a five-year, $40.5 million deal. He’d add some legitimacy to a pass-rush which Saints coach Sean Payton has already labeled “very concerning,” after their last preseason game.

Kruger had just 2.5 sacks last year, but topped out with 11.0 for the Browns in 2014, and he had 9.0 for the Ravens during his salary push in 2012.

But the Saints can’t exactly be picking. It was an area of need anyway, but when 2015 second-rounder Hau’oli Kikaha blew out his knee this summer it became worse.

The Saints also traded for Dolphins backup pass-rusher Chris McCain, evidence they’re going to look under every rock.