We have a good idea of what the New Orleans Saints must address first in free agency. Making life easier for second-year quarterback Tyler Shough means improving his offensive line, especially at left guard. It also means upgrades at running back to create a more dynamic ground game. If the Saints have to play a game on Sunday, these two positions are a must. They acted accordingly, spending huge sums to sign David Edwards and Travis Etienne Jr. Punters are in a mess, too, and the special teams unit isn’t performing as well as it should in 2025. That’s why they made Ryan Wright a top-five pick for paid bettors.
These are the holes in the Saints decision must address. But there are also some positions need Also helping was the signing of linebacker Kaden Ellis and tight end Noah Fant. Here’s what else needs to be addressed in the next phase of free agency, as well as several positions they should fill think Get better. Here’s a quick look at each priority and some of the options available on the public market.
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Edge punching machine
Outside linebacker. Defensively. Call it whatever you want in Brandon Staley’s 3-4 defense (which used a ton of front four last year); the bottom line is Saints need Another passer who can spell Chase Young and Carl Granderson. No matter what happens with Cameron Jordan, this is a position of need. This is a high priority if Jordan leaves in free agency. If Jordan signs another one-year deal a few months before he turns 37, it would still be a high priority. Jordan has reached the point in his career where he should be viewed as a temporary solution rather than a long-term one. Young has emerged as the team’s leader on the edge, but adding another pass rusher to the rotation would be a confidence booster. If the Saints can’t fix that problem this year, it will be an even bigger problem next offseason.
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Arnold Ebichetti. The 27-year-old former second-round pick has been buried in Atlanta’s rotation, and while he only had two sacks last year, he did force five tackles and 25 quarterback pressures. His Pro Football Focus pass-rushing efficiency grade (7.8) ranks third on the team, better than every Saints rusher except Chase Young (11.4). There is untapped potential here.
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Joey Bosa. Bosa, who turns 31 in July, has plenty of experience in Brandon Staley’s system but is still a long way from a 2021 Pro Bowl season with 10.5 sacks. Like Jordan, he’s more of a Band-Aid than a long-term solution. You’d have to think he was looking for a big payday (the Buffalo Bills guaranteed him $12 million last year) or a chance to win a Super Bowl. The saint may not be there yet.
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Jadeveon Clooney. It’s been a long time since Sean Payton used a full-court press to recruit Clooney, and now he’s a 33-year-old mercenary who will likely be playing for his eighth different team in nine years. But he did have 8.5 sacks last year. Like most others on this list, signing him won’t give the Saints answers beyond 2026. Is it still worth it?
wide receiver
There are few options at wide receiver, which is bad news for the Saints. them need A guy who could take the pressure off Chris Olave and DeVaughn Wheeler hasn’t shown his body can handle the pounding in the middle, even if he did make some nice catches down the stretch. Everyone on the depth chart behind those two is unproven. Maybe the Saints would be better served waiting for the draft, but they can’t assume their favorite rookie will be available when they pick.
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Jayann Jennings. In July, the 29-year-old Jennings finally became an unrestricted free agent after being tethered to the San Francisco 49ers for several years. He is undoubtedly the best remaining option on the market, but that also allows him to raise his bid. He’s a very effective weapon with 15 touchdown catches the past two years, and his physical play will be welcomed in New Orleans.
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Keenan Allen. Allen, a veteran receiver still on the field (turning 34 in April), talked about how much he enjoyed playing in the Los Angeles Chargers’ Kellen Moore offense, but that he wasn’t interested in a reunion last year. Maybe his perspective has changed now that the Saints have Tyler Shough at quarterback. Like Jennings, Allen is a bigger target and plays a tougher style than most players in New Orleans.
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Christian Kirk. Kirk, another 29-year-old, never lived up to the expectations that came with his massive contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he proved last year that he could still excel in the right role. He finished well in the playoffs with 10 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns. He might be worth a look.
defensive back
saint need Someone who can guard the position after losing Alontae Taylor in free agency. If they had to play a game today, they would have to move an inexperienced corner like Quincy Riley into space or take Kool-Aid McKinstry off the No. 1 receiver to do that; Isaac Yiadom has played in just over 100 games in his lengthy career. Maybe it will be a safety like Julian Blackmon or Justin Reed, since Jonas Sank has proven he can be trusted. New Orleans needs a more concrete answer for such an important position in Brandon Staley’s defense. Caleb Downs could be the “star” in Staley’s secondary, but can the Saints wait and assume he’ll be there?
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Mike Hilton. Hilton, 32, played in just two games last year due to a shoulder injury but has played more than 4,700 games in his career. He also has 14 career interceptions. He could be a good option if medically cleared, but his age and injury history could be an issue.
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Roger McCreary. The 26-year-old was traded to the Los Angeles Rams last year and received more attention on the outside than he did with the Tennessee Titans, where he mostly played in the slot. He’s solid in run defense and has some experience blitzing quarterbacks. It might be worth giving him a call.
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Nate Hobbs. Hobbs, who turns 27 in June, is looking for a fresh start after a rough first year with the Green Bay Packers. He played primarily in the slot during his first four years with the Las Vegas Raiders, but he struggled when Green Bay took him off the field and they eventually released him. Maybe he’ll be able to capitalize on his strengths better in New Orleans.
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defensive tackle
New Orleans definitely should think Improve their depth on the defensive line even with John Ridgeway III returning on a two-year deal. They just didn’t get enough push from forward Davon Godchaux, and teammate Bryan Bresee took a step back after a change of plans to run more of a three-man forward. Other rookies like Jonathan Bullard and Jonah Williams also didn’t make enough of an impact. It doesn’t look like Christian Boyd has a future in New Orleans, but the team has high hopes for him after Vernon Broughton lost his rookie season to injury. Just look at the market and the biggest potential upgrades are in the middle.
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Sebastian Joseph Day. Day, 31, followed Staley to the Chargers from the Los Angeles Rams the next week and is considered an effective run stopper who can pressure the quarterback when needed. Bringing him in and pushing Godshaw for a roster spot makes a lot of sense, as the primary nose tackles line up in the A-gap.
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DJ Reader. He’s not the pass rusher he once was, but Redd is still a tough guy who can get out of the line of scrimmage. He’ll be 32 in July, but over the past decade he’s become one of the most consistent post players in the game. It’s hard to see him coexisting with Godshaw since they play the same role, but it would be an upgrade.
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Encyclopedia Jones. Most prospects still on the market are on the wrong end of their 30s, but Jones (34) doesn’t appear to have lost a step in his four years with the Buffalo Bills (after spending the previous eight with the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers). He was a big part of the team’s strong performance at the line of scrimmage, but he may be out after Buffalo fired longtime head coach Sean McDermott.
quarterback
To be sure, saints think Another quarterback. They have just two players on their roster and used three in training camp practices. Even if the plan is for Hunter Dirks to return after the UFL season, it’s worth adding another arm in the room in case plans change. They had Jake Haener in that group last year, but he’s gone. Tyler Shough is locked in as the starter and, assuming no one trades him, Spencer Rattler will back him up. That assumption could also be challenged, depending on how the quarterback rotation turns the league around. What if a team offered Rattler a better pick than the Saints spent on the draft?
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Cooper Rush. The Baltimore Ravens waived Rush after bringing back Tyler Huntley, and the 32-year-old could make sense for New Orleans. The Saints defied expectations last season that they would add a veteran backup. Maybe this will change. Rush is someone that Kellen Moore and the rest of the staff are very familiar with, having recruited him as a rookie free agent to the Dallas Cowboys. He had a 5-1 record in games directed by Moore.
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Easton sticks. Stick, 30, is another guy the Saints coaching staff should be familiar with, having backed up Justin Herbert for several years with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers were 0-4 when he had to finish the 2023 season, but he played well under Kellen Moore, completing 63.8 percent of his passes and throwing just one interception. He did have 14 sacks and five fumbles, so ideally he’d be wearing a cap rather than a helmet most Sundays.
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Will Grier. Grier, who turns 31 in April, is another potential backup quarterback to keep an eye on. The Cowboys just released him from his contract, and he’s been with Kellen Moore at a few different spots over the years: Dallas (2021-2022), Los Angeles (2023) and Philadelphia (2024, on the practice squad). Don’t be surprised if he ends up taking Jack Harner’s old locker in New Orleans.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Ranking Saints’ needs, wants and musts after free agent spending
