Report: Saints Won't Tender Offer to RFA Marquez Callaway

According to reports, New Orleans will not be offering a contract to their 2021 receiving leader Marquez Callaway.

As reported by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the New Orleans Saints will not tender a contract offer to restricted free agent WR Marquez Callaway. A restricted free agent is a player who's contract has expired with three accrued NFL seasons.  

A team can tender one of three qualifying offers to a restricted free agent. 

1. First-Round Tender ($6 million/1-year)

This is where a team has one week to match a qualifying offer to the player made by another team. If not matched, they would receive a first-round draft pick if they don't match the offer.

2. Second-Round Tender ($4.3 million/1-year)

A team still has one week to match a contract offer made to the free agent by another squad. If they do not match the offer, they receive a second-round pick. 

3. Right of First Refusal ($2.63 million/1-year)

The team still has one week to match an opposing contract offer, but receive no compensation if they elect not to match. 

If a team does not tender an offer to a restricted free agent, like is being reported with Callaway, then that player becomes an unrestricted free agent. Free agency officially starts on March 15th. The Saints could still re-sign Callaway, but he is also free to sign with any team.

Dec 19, 2021; New Orleans Saints receiver Marquez Callaway (1) catches a pass against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23). Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

An undrafted rookie out of Tennessee in 2020, Callaway has 83 receptions for 1,069 yards and 7 touchdowns in three years with New Orleans. His best season was in 2021, when he had 46 catches for a team-high 698 yards and 6 touchdowns. However, that was the lowest yardage total for a Saints team leader since 1986.

Callaway, who turns 25 on March 27, had just 16 receptions for 158 yards and a score in 14 games last season. A 6'2" and 204-Lb. possession receiver, Callaway is physical through the intermediate areas of a defense but has always struggled to get separation against man coverage. 

Callaway could rejoin the team as a fourth or fifth wideout. At the very least, he'll test the market for interest from other teams first.

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