Countdown to Kickoff: Zach Wood is Saints Player of Day 49

There are only 49 days to go until the start of the season for the New Orleans Saints. That makes the Saints’ player of the day long snapper Zach Wood, who plays one of football’s most underrated and not-so-talked about roles on the field.

Here’s a closer look in to the player who dons the jersey number of 49:

• Name (Age): Zach Wood (31)
• Position: Long snapper
• Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 255 pounds

• Relative Athletic Score: 0.83

• 2024 salary cap hit: $858,569
• College: SMU
• Drafted: UDFA in 2016 (Dallas Cowboys)
• NFL experience: 8th year

He’s done well for himself. Wood was originally signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent back in 2016, though he was ultimately released in 2017. That obviously wasn’t the end of the road for the former Mustang, as he was signed by the Saints shortly after.

Wood has what’s seen as the most secure job the Saints have to offer within the team at long snapper, recently signing a four-year contract extension that will keep him with the squad through the 2027 season. The deal includes $2.3 million in guarantees and a $1 million signing bonus. It should be noted that total of guarantees makes him the third-highest paid long snapper in the NFL, behind only the New England Patriots’ Joe Cardona ($2.6 million) and the New York Jets’ Thomas Hennessy ($3.165 million).

And while Wood is tied with Hennessy for the most regular season games played among active long snappers (115), his 7 playoff matchups gives him an edge. He’s the most experienced player in the NFL at what he does, and the Saints have been fortunate to have him for so long. If he finishes out his career in New Orleans without missing another start during his current contract he’ll end up with at least 166 games played in black and gold. That would be good for 13th-most in team history, ahead of Zach Strief (158) and just behind Jahri Evans (169).