Updating Saints team needs after opening wave of free agency
· Yahoo Sports
We had a good idea of which positions the New Orleans Saints had to address first in free agency. Making life easier for second-year quarterback Tyler Shough meant improving his offensive line, specifically left guard. It also meant upgrading at running back to make a more dynamic ground game. If the Saints had to play a game this Sunday, it was a given that those two spots were must-haves. And they acted accordingly by signing David Edwards and Travis Etienne Jr. to big-money deals. Punter was a mess, too, with the special teams unit having not pulled their weight in 2025. It's why they made Ryan Wright a top-five paid punter.
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Those were the holes the Saints decided they must address. But there were positions that need help, too, hence the signings of linebacker Kaden Elliss and tight end Noah Fant. There are other needs to address in the next phase of free agency, plus a couple of positions they should want to get better. Here's a quick look at each priority and some options available on the open market.
Edge rusher
Outside linebacker. Defensive end. Call it what you want in Brandon Staley's 3-4 defense (which used a lot of four-man fronts last year); the bottom line is the Saints need another pass rusher who can spell Chase Young and Carl Granderson. And it's a position of need regardless of what happens with Cameron Jordan. If Jordan leaves in free agency, it's a high priority. If Jordan returns on another one-year deal months before he'll turn 37, it's still a high priority. We've reached the point in Jordan's career where he should be seen as a temporary fix, not a long-term solution. Young has stepped up as the team's leading presence off the edge but adding another pass rusher to the rotation would build a lot of confidence. If the Saints can't address it this year it'll be an even bigger concern next offseason.
Free agents to watch:
- Arnold Ebiketie. The 27-year old former second-round pick has been buried in Atlanta's rotation, and while he only had two sacks last year he did produce five tackles for loss and 25 quarterback pressures. His Pro Football Focus pass rush productivity rating (7.8) was third-highest on the team and better than every Saints edge rusher but Chase Young (11.4). There's untapped potential here.
- Joey Bosa. Bosa, who turns 31 in July, has plenty of experience in Brandon Staley's system but he's a long way removed from his 10.5-sack Pro Bowl season back in 2021. Like Jordan, he'd be more of a Band-Aid than a long-term fix. You'd have to think he's looking for a good payday (the Buffalo Bills guaranteed him $12 million last year) or a chance to win a Super Bowl. The Saints may not be there yet.
- Jadeveon Clowney. It's been a long time since Sean Payton ran a full court press to recruit Clowney, and now he's a 33-year old mercenary likely to play for his eighth different team in nine years. But he did have 8.5 sacks last year. Just like most of the other guys on this list, signing him wouldn't give the Saints an answer beyond 2026. Is it still worth it?
Wide receiver
It's slim pickings at wide receiver, which is bad news for the Saints. They need someone who can take pressure off Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele hasn't shown his body can hold up to big hits over the middle, even if he did make some spectacular catches down the stretch. Everyone on the depth chart behind the two of them is unproven. Maybe the Saints would be better served waiting for the draft, but they can't assume their favorite prospect will be available when they pick.
Free agents to watch
- Jauan Jennings. Jennings, 29 in July, has finally reached unrestricted free agency after the San Francisco 49ers strung him along for several years. He's easily the best option remaining on the market but that positions him to drive up the bidding, too. He's been a very effective weapon with 15 touchdown catches the last two years, and his physical play style would be welcome in New Orleans.
- Keenan Allen. One of the older receivers still out there (he turns 34 in April), Allen has talked about how much he enjoyed playing in Kellen Moore's offense with the Los Angeles Chargers, but he wasn't interested in a reunion last year. Maybe his perspective has changed now that the Saints have a quarterback in Tyler Shough. Like Jennings, Allen is a bigger target with a tougher style of play than most of the guys in New Orleans.
- Christian Kirk. Another 29-year old, Kirk never met the expectations that came with his lofty Jacksonville Jaguars contract, but he showed last year he could still play well in the right role. And he came through in a big spot in the playoffs with ten catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns. He could be worth a look.
Defensive back
The Saints need someone who can guard the slot after losing Alontae Taylor in free agency. If they had to play a game today they would have to move an inexperienced corner like Quincy Riley into the slot or take Kool-Aid McKinstry off of No. 1 receivers to do it; Isaac Yiadom has only played a little more than 100 snaps in the slot through his long career. Maybe it would be a safety like Julian Blackmon or Justin Reid now that Jonas Sanker has shown he can be trusted over the top. New Orleans needs a more concrete answer for such an important position in Brandon Staley's defense. It could be that Caleb Downs can man the "star" position in Staley's secondary, but can the Saints afford to wait and assume he'll be there?
Free agents to watch:
- Mike Hilton. Hilton, 32, only appeared in two games last year while dealing with a shoulder injury but he's spent more than 4,700 career snaps in the slot. He also has 14 career interceptions. He could be a good pickup if the medicals check out, but his age and injury history could be an issue.
- Roger McCreary. The 26-year old was traded to the Los Angeles Rams last year and got more looks outside than he had with the Tennessee Titans, where he mostly played from the slot. He's reliable in run defense and has some experience blitzing the quarterback. It could be worth giving him a call.
- Nate Hobbs. Hobbs turns 27 in June and is looking for a fresh start after a rough first year with the Green Bay Packers. He mainly played the slot his first four years with the Las Vegas Raiders but struggled when Green Bay kicked him outside, and they ultimately released him. Maybe he can better play to his strengths in New Orleans.
Defensive tackle
New Orleans should definitely want to improve their depth on the defensive line, even with John Ridgeway III returning on a two-year deal. They just didn't get enough push in the middle from nose tackle Davon Godchaux, and his teammate Bryan Bresee took a step back after the scheme change to run more three-man fronts. Other pickups like Jonathan Bullard and Jonah Williams didn't make a big enough impact, either. It doesn't look like Khristian Boyd has a future in New Orleans, but the team expects big things from Vernon Broughton after he lost his rookie year to an injury. Taking a look at the market suggests the biggest potential upgrades are in the middle.
Free agents to watch
- Sebastian Joseph-Day. Day, 31 next week, followed Staley from the Los Angeles Rams to the Chargers, and was regarded as an effective run stopper who can pressure the quarterback when called upon. It would make a lot of sense to bring him in and push Godchaux for a roster spot as the primary nose tackle lining up over the A gap.
- DJ Reader. He isn't the same pass rusher he once was but Reader is still a tough guy to move off the line of scrimmage. He'll be 32 in July but has developed a reputation as one of the more consistent interior linemen in the game over the last decade. It's tough to see him coexisting with Godchaux since they play the same role, but it would be an upgrade.
- DaQuan Jones. Most of the linemen still on the market are on the wrong end of 30, but Jones (34) doesn't seem to have lost a step through four years with the Buffalo Bills (after spending the previous eight years on the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers). He's been a big part of their strong play at the line of scrimmage but may be on the outs after Buffalo fired longtime head coach Sean McDermott.
Quarterback
It's a safe bet that the Saints want another quarterback. They've only got two on the roster and training camp practices use three. Even if the plan is for Hunter Dekkers to return after the UFL season is over, it's worth adding another arm to the room in case that plan changes. They had Jake Haener rounding out the group last year but he's already moved on. Tyler Shough is locked in as the starter and, assuming no one trades for him, Spencer Rattler will back him up. That assumption could get challenged, too, depending on how the QB carousel turns around the league. What if a team offers a better pick for Rattler than the Saints spent to draft him?
- Cooper Rush. The Baltimore Ravens cut Rush after bringing back Tyler Huntley, and the 32-year old could make sense for New Orleans. The Saints pushed back on the expectation they would add an experienced backup last season. Maybe that changes. Rush is someone Kellen Moore and other members of the staff know very well, having recruited him to the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie free agent. He went 5-1 in games with Moore calling plays.
- Easton Stick. Stick, 30, is someone else the Saints' coaching staff should know well after he backed up Justin Herbert for several years on the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers went 0-4 when he had to finish their 2023 season, but he played decently well with Kellen Moore calling plays -- completing 63.8% of his passes and only throwing one interception. He did take 14 sacks and fumble five times, so ideally he's spending most Sundays wearing a cap instead of a helmet.
- Will Grier. Grier, 31 in April, is another potential backup quarterback to watch. The Cowboys just released him from his contract and he's been with Kellen Moore in several different stops over the years: Dallas (2021-2022), Los Angeles (2023), and Philadelphia (2024, on the practice squad). Don't be surprised if he ends up in New Orleans taking Jake Haener's old locker.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Ranking Saints team needs, wants, and musts after free agency spending