NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints are among teams that have shown interest in former Los Angeles Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis, a league source confirmed. A visit is anticipated.

The Saints' interest, which was first reported by the NFL Network, is a bit of a head-scratcher since they already have a middle linebacker and defensive signal-caller in Stephone Anthony. Anthony, a first-round draft pick last year, started every game and ranked 20th in the NFL with 112 tackles.

However, the defensive front seven in general ranks as New Orleans' most glaring need -- as coach Sean Payton stressed earlier this week. So it's not surprising to see the Saints kicking the tires on a proven veteran leader and playmaker who became available before the start of free agency on March 9 when the Rams let him go last week.

Perhaps either Laurinaitis (6-foot-2, 248 pounds) or Anthony (6-2, 245) could move to the strong side in the base defense. However, it would still rank as a pressing priority for the Saints to add a linebacker who is strong in pass coverage.

Laurinaitis, 29, was a second-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2009 who started from Day 1 and never missed a game for the Rams -- 112 straight games and counting, despite a significant elbow injury last season.

He left as the Rams' all-time leading tackler, with at least 109 of them every season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Laurinaitis' 7,187 snaps rank first in the NFL among any defensive player since 2009. His 854 tackles rank second. And he is one of only five players with at least 10 sacks and 10 interceptions (16.5 sacks and 10 INTs).

As is often the case in the NFL, though, Laurinaitis' salary started rising and his production began dipping a bit. His totals of 110 tackles in 2014 and 109 in 2015 were the two lowest of his career. He had one sack and one interception last season.

"I was surprised by [being released], I was shocked at first," Laurinaitis told ESPN.com when he was released. "But I also know this is a business and when you start to move toward the front of the parking spaces and get a little older, all those people in front of you have left so you are not any different than anybody else who is getting up there. I'm going into Year 8, and I'm still 29 and I still feel like I'm playing at a productive level. I was a little shocked from that point of view but man other than that, it's a business.”