Will the Saints Pursue Any Free Agents?

The free agent market has some intriguing talent available, but will the Saints bite?

We're less than two weeks from the start of Saints training camp, as the rookies report on Tuesday. The veterans will join them a week later, with practices set to get underway sooner rather than later. Things remain relatively quiet on the news front as far as free agency movement, but that can change quickly.

New Orleans could end up making some moves before we get to training camp, but they could also be patient and wait for the right player for the right fit. There's a lot of marquee names out there, and here's some of the ones that could make sense over the next month.

Offense

Jan 3, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) runs with the ball during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Higher profile players like DeAndre Hopkins and Dalvin Cook really don't feel like they're on the radar, and rightfully so. New Orleans also has a crowd of talent at wide receiver, and unless something major happens with Michael Thomas, it would be hard to envision them pursuing strong talent. Someone like a Kenny Golladay needs a rebound in the worst way possible, and it'll be interesting to see where he lands. The depth in the tight end room also feels strong right now. Here's a couple players that could make sense.

• Kareem Hunt, RB - He has starting potential, and will be grouped into the conversation when others look at Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette. Hunt would get my personal nod over both, but an addition at the position would really depend on what happens with Alvin Kamara. Even with him facing suspension, New Orleans has a strong group behind Kamara. Alternate players with lower profiles would include Darrell Henderson and James Robinson.
• Dalton Risner, OG - The guard spot feels pretty good right now, but there are some concerns with the long-term outlook. Rookie Nick Saldiveri should be good to go by training camp and is expected to push players like Calvin Throckmorton and Lewis Kidd, and then Cesar Ruiz is returning from a Lisfranc injury that required surgery. Andrus Peat figures to be the starting left guard until he's not. Risner is a player that several teams are reportedly interested in. He'd be worth a look, but will likely have better options with stronger outlooks.

Overall, the Saints offense feels pretty set, but the unknown could prompt them to look to free agency. Unless it's related to the line or Kamara situation, it would be hard to see them add. Never say never, however.

Defense

Nov 25, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints middle linebacker Kwon Alexander (5) celebrates his interception in the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Currently, the Saints really don't need to look much in the secondary for players. That would rule out the likes of Marcus Peters, John Johnson, and Logan Ryan. The main adds the Saints should look at would be in the front seven. 

The interior line is an area we also talked about before, but something to point out is that most of the key players available are older there. This includes Akiem Hicks (33), Ndamukong Suh (36), Tyson Alualu (36), and Linval Joseph (34). That's not to say one of the veterans could be added, but New Orleans will have to weigh what they have versus what's out there to see if there's any upside bringing on someone for their rotation.

• Yannick Ngakoue, DE - He's the best pass rusher out there that's unsigned, and his sack production over the past couple of years with a switch to Drew Rosenhaus likely means a pay day that reflects it.
• Jadeveon Clowney, DE - He's been a popular named linked to the Saints, and the ties make sense. He could fit in a rotation, but he's been fairly inconsistent to invest big dollars into his services. 
• Myles Jack, LB - He's a tackle machine that should find work soon. Jack might have to be willing to accept a lesser role with a team and work his way onto the field.
• Anthony Barr, LB - He'll find something a little less than what Dallas gave him last year (1 year, $3 million). Teams will likely look to Jack and Kwon Alexander first, but it's worth mentioning that Barr was a good sport about his role with the Cowboys last season.
• Kwon Alexander, LB - His previous experience in New Orleans would make it easy to bring him back, but it feels like that might not be prompted unless something were to happen to Pete Werner. The team might also want to see what they have in D'Marco Jackson before looking.

Don't expect a ton of movement here for New Orleans, and they honestly might see how things shake up before looking here. If you ask someone like Dennis Allen, they're always looking to improve though. Saints training camp kicks off on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and we'll have plenty of breakdowns and coverage from practices.