New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis has announced that the club has agreed to terms on a five-year contract with unrestricted free agent LB David Hawthorne.

Hawthorne, 6-0, 246 pounds, was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2008.  In four seasons with the Seahawks, Hawthorne appeared in 61 games with 41 starts, where he notched 336 tackles (240 solo), six sacks, seven interceptions, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 15 passes defensed and one defensive touchdown. The former Texas Christian standout handled starting duties for the Seahawks since week nine of the 2009 campaign, recording at least 100 tackles each season, leading Seattle in stops the last two.  Hawthorne has also recorded 15 tackles on special teams.

In 2011, the Corsicana, Texas native appeared in 15 games with 14 starts at middle linebacker and led the Seahawks with 115 tackles as he became only the fifth player in franchise history to total 100 or more tackles in three-straight seasons. Hawthorne filled up the stat sheet for Seattle, also adding two sacks, three interceptions, including a 77-yard return for a touchdown, one fumble recovery and six passes defensed. He captured Week 13 NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors when he recorded his first career touchdown on the 77-yard interception return against Philadelphia.