Saints Could Still Address a Key Need Before Draft

Most have New Orleans addressing a vital team need in the early rounds of the draft, but the Saints could also do it with one of the remaining free agents on the market to lessen the urgency.

The New Orleans Saints ranked fifth in the NFL with 48 sacks in 2022. However, that number is somewhat deceiving. Linebackers Demario Davis and Kaden Elliss combined for 13.5 of those sacks. New Orleans actually ranked near the bottom of the league in hurries, knockdowns, and pressures. 

Defensive linemen David Onyemata, Shy Tuttle, Kentavius Street, and Marcus Davenport, along with Elliss, combined for 18 sacks but are now gone. The Saints brought in tackles Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders in free agency, but the returning ends combined for just 18 sacks in 2022. 

Several predictions have New Orleans targeting a defensive end with an early round draft choice. It wouldn't be at all surprising if the Saints drafted both an end and another tackle. However, here are some free-agent ends still available that would lessen that need in the draft.

Frank Clark (age = 29)

6'3" 261-Lbs.

Feb 12, 2023; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark (55) during the first quarter in Super Bowl LVII. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone/The Republic via USA TODAY Sports

Clark has been a key member of a Kansas City Chiefs defense that's done a great job of pressuring the passer during three Super Bowl trips in the last four years. Originally a second-round choice by the Seahawks in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Michigan, Clark has 58.5 sacks over an eight-year career. 

Since joining the Chiefs in 2019, Clark has 34 sacks and 73 QB hits counting postseason. He contributed 7.5 sacks, 31 pressures, and 12 tackles for loss in 2022. Clark is also a capable run defender. 

A teammate of Tanoh Kpassagnon, Khalen Saunders and Tyrann Mathieu in Kansas City, Clark's production has slowed a bit. However, he would still be a productive complement to Cam Jordan and a disruptive part of the Saints edge rotation. 

Yannick Ngakoue (28)

6'2" 246-Lbs.

Sep 25, 2022; Indianapolis Colts defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15). Mandatory Credit: Jenna Watson/IndyStar Staff-USA TODAY Sports

Ngakoue has been a mercenary over the last few years, playing for five different teams since 2019. Unlike another mercenary, Jadeveon Clowney, Ngakoue has remained productive. 

A third-round pick by Jacksonville in the 2016 Draft out of Maryland, Ngakoue has 65 sacks and 21 forced fumbles in his seven-year career. He's been credited with 19.5 sacks and 63 pressures in the last two seasons, including 9.5 sacks and 27 pressures with the Colts in 2022.

Ngakoue is not a strong defender against the run. However, he remains a highly disruptive pass rusher capable of upgrading a defense as a situational player. 

Dawuane Smoot (28)

6'3" 264-Lbs.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dawuane Smoot (91) pressures Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during early second quarter action. Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

Smoot was part of a surprising rejuvenated Jacksonville defense that made the playoffs last season. He was second among Jaguars defenders with five sacks.

A third-round choice out of Illinois in 2017, Smoot has played his entire career in Jacksonville. All of his 22.5 career sacks have come in the last four seasons. He was a teammate of Ngakoue for three years. 

Smoot doesn't have elite sack numbers, but he also had 19 pressures in 2022 after an impressive 61 pressures over the previous two campaigns. He tore his Achilles late last season, putting his availability in the beginning of 2023 in doubt. 

William Gholston (31)

6'6" 281-Lbs.

Dec 19, 2021; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) is tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston (92). Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY

New Orleans is very familiar with Gholston, a division rival with Tampa Bay for the last 10 seasons. A fourth-round pick out of Michigan State by the Buccaneers in 2013, Gholston has 19.5 career sacks and 58 tackles for loss. 

Gholston has been a steady member of Tampa Bay's defensive line throughout his career. He didn't register a sack in 2022 and had just five pressures, but his 49 total tackles was the second highest of his career.

Gholston has never been a standout pass rusher - his career-high of 4.5 sacks came in 2021. However, he provides important complementary pressure (46 combined pressures in 2020 and 2021) and is an outstanding run defender. 

Robert Quinn (33)

6'4" 245-Lbs.

Nov 21, 2021; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (2) fumbles the football against Chicago Bears outside linebacker Robert Quinn (94). Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

One of just seven active players with at least 100 sacks, Quinn's 102 sacks ranks 43rd in NFL history. He was the 14th selection in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of North Carolina by the St. Louis Rams. Cam Jordan was selected by the Saints with the 24th overall pick that same year. 

Quinn has slowed in recent seasons and had played for four different teams since 2018. However, he had 18.5 sacks as recently as 2021 with Chicago. He didn't register a sack and had 11 pressures last year in 13 games with the Bears and Eagles.

Quinn isn't the Pro Bowler he was earlier in his career. However, his veteran savvy could still be valuable as part of a rotation in limited snaps and he remains solid against the run. 

Leonard Floyd (30)

6'5" 240-Lbs.

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Leonard Floyd (54) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12). Wm. Glasheen-USA TODAY Sports

Floyd is one of the highest-priced players left in free agency. It isn't that he still can't perform. He had 9 sacks and 31 pressures for a bad Los Angeles Rams squad last year. After a slow start to his career, he's blossomed into one of the league's better edge rushers over the last few seasons. 

The ninth overall pick of the 2016 first round out of Georgia by Chicago, Floyd has 47.5 sacks and 103 QB hits over a seven-year career. Since joining the Rams three years ago, he has 29 sacks and 98 pressures. The Rams released him this offseason in a salary cap move.

Floyd doesn't fit the Saints prototype for defensive ends. However, he's been productive in a four-man front and would be especially effective in passing situations. At this point of free agency, Floyd might be willing to sign a somewhat reasonable one-year deal with hopes of cashing in big next offseason. 

Al-Quadin Muhammad (28)

6'4" 250-Lbs.

Aug 10, 2017; New Orleans Saints defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad (97) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer (7). Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Muhammad was a sixth-round choice out of Miami FL. by the Saints in the famed 2017 draft that brought them Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, Marcus Williams, Alvin Kamara, Alex Anzalone, and Trey Hendrickson. Unlike those other players, Muhammad appeared in only four games as a Saint before being released during the 2018 preseason. 

Indianapolis signed Muhammad, where he'd remain through 2021. Between 2019 and 2021, Muhammad had 11 sacks, 44 pressures, and 22 tackles for loss. He'd have one sack and ten pressures for the Chicago Bears last season. 

Muhammad has played with improved discipline against the run over his rookie year and has a good motor and effort as a pass rusher. Unlike the other names on this list, he isn't a starting caliber player. However, he'd be able to strengthen the Saints depth at defensive end. 

Cam Jordan is still playing at a high level, but will turn 34 this offseason and is entering his 13th season. Carl Granderson and Tanoh Kpassagnon are good players, but nowhere near elite. Payton Turner, a 2021 first-round pick, has done nothing his first two seasons 

The Saints clearly need more talent along the edge. Signing a proven veteran starter could prevent them from making a potentially desperate move in the draft if the top ends start coming off the board early.