Free agency is quickly approaching, and the New Orleans Saints will be looking extensively for new players — or at least throughout the National League. To that end, we’re spotlighting a free agent from each team in the conference who might fit the Saints’ needs. Some of them may become starters. Others may be contributors in important positions. A few might not make the difference, but not every team has a talent-rich class. Let’s go through this list.
Atlanta Falcons: LB Kaden Elliss
Ellis, who turned 31 in July, didn’t get much playing time as a backup in New Orleans, but he had a few good years with the Falcons. If the Saints don’t re-sign Demario Davis, Ellis could be a great successor to his old mentor. He finished the season with 122, 151 and 107 tackles in Atlanta while recording 12.5 sacks and 32 quarterback hits.
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Dowdle, 28 when the season begins, has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons after spending the first three years of his career as a backup. Kellen Moore and his staff should know him well from his time with the Dallas Cowboys. While Dowdle isn’t a big threat (just five runs of 20 yards or more last year), he can move the chains effectively. He finished with 56 first downs on 79 carries when his team needed 3 yards or less.
Orton, who turns 27 in April, is more of a traditional interior tight end than Juwan Johnson, and while there are mixed opinions on his effectiveness as a blocker, he would be an upgrade over Foster Moreau as the Saints’ TE2. He averages about 60 catches per year, but primarily as a dump target outside the line of scrimmage. Tyler Shough has a reliable release valve to use when under pressure.
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Remember him? Gillikin spent his rookie year working out under Thomas Morstead, but the Saints cut him after one season. They’ve had a new punter every year since (from Gillikin to Lou Hedley to Matthew Hyball and Kai Kroger). He was on injured reserve after five games but averaged 51.7 yards per punt, the most in the NFL, and could be a good option to compete with Kroeger in 2026. Maybe he makes up for a shortcoming the Saints previously identified.
Atwell, 26, fell short of expectations and finished the year healthy in Los Angeles. Maybe a change of scenery would be good for him; the Saints’ receiving corps already has several players in similar situations, such as Jalin Polk and Trey Palmer. Atwell has real speed and can run some of the same routes that Rasheed Shahid did last year. His challenge is to get open and catch the ball as it comes to him.
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San Francisco 49ers: WR Jauan Jennings
Jennings was 29 when the season began and was known as one of the most physical receivers in the NFL. He blocks well and plays hard and makes a lot of contested catches. It’s hard to say how much he’ll command on the open market without a 1,000-yard season, but his nine touchdown catches last year will help.
Walker, 25, led Seattle to a dominant run that culminated in a Super Bowl win and is expected to become the highest-paid running back in free agency. Whether the Saints are willing to pay him what he deserves remains to be seen, but they should at least check him out. He averaged 60.4 yards per game last year and had 42 carries of 10 yards or more.
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Zach Joss will be 29 when the season begins, and he has been a consistent member of several different receiving corps over the past few years while serving as a blocker and third or fourth target in the passing game. He won’t be worth much, but would add some missing experience to the Saints offense. He played in 105 regular season games, plus six playoff games.
This is another potential homecoming. Anzalone, 31, has had a stellar career in Detroit since leaving the Saints in 2021; he’s started every game he’s played in while leading a tough defensive 4 and fighting hard on every possession. This is the same idea as Caden Ellis. If Demario Davis leaves in free agency, Anzalone is a veteran who has lost three straight and could replace him.
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Green Bay Packers: WR Romeo Doubs
Dubs, who turns 26 in April, has improved every year in the NFL and is a nice compliment to Chris Olave because he’s a slightly larger target (6-foot-2, 204 pounds) with a stellar resume. In four years in Green Bay, he averaged 41.1 yards per reception and scored 21 touchdowns. Of concern is his injury history. Like Olaf, Dubs has missed time with several concussions.
Minnesota Vikings: WR Jalen Nailor
Naylor, 27, has been a productive role player for the Vikings, catching 57 passes for 47 first downs (plus 10 touchdowns) over the past two years. He’s an underrated deep threat who could be a very good option for the Saints if the money makes sense. He doesn’t add much versatility to the 6-foot, 190-pound receiving corps, but that didn’t stop them from signing Brandin Cooks a year ago. Maybe he’ll reach the next level with better quarterback play.
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Dallas Cowboys: LB Jack Sanborn
With Demario Davis potentially leaving this spring, the Saints could be desperate to utilize some linebacker depth behind Pete Werner and Danny Stutzman heading into 2026. Bringing in Jake Sanborn would be a good option to fill that need as he has proven to be a valuable backup option who can step into the starting role when needed and still belongs to a young side with a lot to prove.
New York Giants: OL Evan Neal
Neal, 25, lost the 2025 season to a hamstring injury after converting from tackle to guard and is now teaming up with LeCharles Bentley to try to turn his career around. Coincidentally, Bentley began working for the Saints as a personnel consultant last year, so they may have inside track of Neal’s progress. The former seventh overall pick isn’t going to break the bank, and they could do a lot worse to add to the team’s competition.
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Philadelphia Eagles: TE Dallas Goedert
Goedert, 31, is no longer the blocker he once was, but he has proven he can still thrive in the passing game. Last season, he had a dozen touchdown catches with his highest average target depth since 2021. The Saints need more production from the tight end position, and Goedert could be an effective two-way partner for Juwan Johnson.
Washington Commander: K. Jack Moody
Moody, 26, was waived by the 49ers last year and ended up in Washington and spent a few weeks working out with the Chicago Bears. He had a great day against the Saints in Week 7, hitting four field goals of 27, 39, 24 and 33 yards. Blake Grupe fumbled the ball 53 yards that afternoon. Moody could be just the kind of veteran the Saints are looking for to push Charlie Smith forward.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: New Orleans Saints free agent targets for every NFC team