2024 Saints Free Agents: First Glimpse

Here's a first look at free agency for the Saints going into the offseason, as New Orleans will have plenty of decisions to make very soon.
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While the Saints season ended in disappointing fashion on Sunday afternoon, the reality is that after things settle and the front office debriefs, they'll have to make some major decisions going into the new league year. As always, New Orleans will have to work itself out of being over the salary cap before March 13 and also create some space to be able to spend. The good news is that they've already started that process. Here's a look at the 2024 free agents the Saints will have to make decisions on soon enough.

Saints Free Agency List For 2024

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) evades a tackle by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Tony Brown
Oct 29, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) evades a tackle by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Tony Brown (38) during the first quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Street Free Agent (1)

Street/Other Free Agent (SFA) – Certainly not as common as others, but this is a player who either got released by their team or wasn't under contract during the previous season. They don't have to wait until the beginning of the new league year to sign a contract, and they won't factor into any compensatory formula.

  • Ryan Connelly, LB, 29

Exclusive Rights Free Agents (2)

Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFA) – Player is not under contract, and has not reached three years of experience. If the team makes said player an offer at the three-year veteran minimum active salary applicable to the player, then they have a ‘take it or leave it’ option. There is no negotiation with other teams unless the original team does not make a tender offer prior to the deadline.

  • P.J. Mustipher, DL, 25
  • Rashid Shaheed, WR, 26

Restricted Free Agents (2)

Restricted Free Agent (RFA) – Player has only three years of experience, and would not have a contract with his current team. Any team would have the option to make a contract offer, but the team (Saints) would be able to match/retain that player with said offer. Given the price tag tenders, these would be highly unlikely.

  • Lynn Bowden, WR, 27
  • Adam Prentice, FB, 27

Unrestricted Free Agents

Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) – Player is free to sign with any team. He would not have a contract with his current team. You would need to play four years or get cut to be in this category. This is a fluid list.

  • Michael Thomas, WR, 31 (Void Years)
  • Andrus Peat, OL, 31 (Void Years)
  • Jameis Winston, QB, 30 (Void Years)
  • Trai Turner, RG, 31
  • Jimmy Graham, TE, 38
  • Lonnie Johnson, DB, 29
  • Isaac Yiadom, CB, 28
  • Zack Baun, LB, 28
  • Cameron Erving, OT, 32
  • Max Garcia, OG, 33
  • Ty Summers, LB, 29
  • Ugo Amadi, DB, 27
  • Malcolm Roach, DT, 26
  • Kyle Phillips, DE, 27
  • Johnathan Abram, DB, 28
  • Keith Kirkwood, WR, 31
  • Andrew Dowell, LB, 28
  • Eno Benjamin, RB, 25

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John Hendrix
JOHN HENDRIX

I officially started covering the New Orleans Saints & other NFL topics in 2011. My work has been featured on various outlets over the years. I worked closely with Skyhorse Publishing in Fall 2018 to update the book, Tales From the New Orleans Saints Sidelines, which filled in all Saints material from the 2013-2017 seasons. Prior to joining Saints News Network, I served as the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles for 3.5 years, and before that with FanSided's Who Dat Dish as the Managing Editor for several years. I have also had experiences of being a freelance Saints reporter for The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS and a contributing writer for WDSU, a local NBC TV station in New Orleans. I have appeared on a vast amount of TV and Radio shows, both nationally and locally. For tips, comments, or suggestions, please contact me at johnhendrix@saintsnews.net