The New Orleans Saints has an abundance of free agents to target prior to training camp. However, the strategy so far has been more cautious than in previous years. The lack of salary cap room has led to a notable lack of additions this off-season. Trey Hendrickson and Sheldon Rankins are among those who have signed elsewhere, while Emmanuel Sanders and Janoris Jenkins were two cap casualties as the Saints scrambled to get their books in order for 2021.
However, with the bulk of free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, there remains a large pool of veteran free agents still looking for work. The Saints are now under the cap for 2021, albeit by under just under one million dollars. With further roster cuts possible, it’s unlikely New Orleans is finished adding to the roster. Mickey Loomis and Sean Payton will be eyeing cheaper alternatives to the players currently on the team. These are some free agents still unsigned the New Orleans Saints could target before training camp.
Free Agents for the New Orleans Saints to Target Before Training Camp
Richard Sherman
Reports surfaced earlier in the off-season the Saints had touched base with Richard Sherman in March after the release of Jenkins. The rumors have since cooled but Sherman remains unsigned. This could be the three-time All-Pro’s final contract of his career so it makes sense Sherman is weighing up all of the options available to him. As the competitor he is associated with being, it makes sense if Sherman is aiming to sign with a likely Super Bowl contender for 2021. After Drew Brees’ retirement, it’s fair to question if the Saints are contenders in 2021.
Cornerback is a position of need for New Orleans. They added Paulson Adebo in the third round of the draft this off-season. However, the fan base is calling for further additions to challenge for playing time on the perimeter opposite Marshon Lattimore. Even at age 33, Sherman has the high football IQ to compete and remains a tough tackler with playmaking ability when he stays in the route. The asking price will be interesting, a potential return to the San Francisco 49ers has been heavily rumored in recent weeks. However, Sean Payton is a known fan of Sherman which could increase the likelihood of the move.
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Geno Atkins
There are several veteran defensive tackles left on the market. Geno Atkins, Sheldon Richardson, Kawann Short, and Jurrell Casey are high-profile names in what seems to be a case of who blinks first. It’s a consequence of the reduced cap for 2021 that an unusually large number of well-known names remain unsigned. The likelihood is all will grudgingly sign one-year prove-it deals. They simply are not generating the kind of interest many would assume for players of their stature.
For example, Atkins is a three-time All-Pro with 75.5 career sacks to his name. Moreover, he was named to the NFL 2010’s All-decade team. At 33 years old, Atkins should still have a couple of seasons left in the tank. The Saints are lacking the depth they once had at the defensive tackle position with the departure of the Rankins to the New York Jets this off-season. Adding a veteran lineman in the trenches would go a long way to maintaining their defense’s reputation of being stout against the run in recent seasons.
Dede Westbrook
Dede Westbrook is coming off a torn ACL suffered in Week 7 with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. He suffered the injury in late October. However, reports suggest he should be ready for Week 1 of 2021 at the latest. Westbrook is a former fourth-round draft and put together back-to-back solid seasons with the Jaguars in 2018 and 2019. Despite the lack of quality quarterbacks the wide receiver had to throw him the ball in Jacksonville.
New Orleans at this stage of the off-season is looking for bargains. At 27 years old, Westbrook can come back from this injury and still make an impact in the league. His stock is low following the injury and lack of interest the Jaguars had in keeping him with a new regime now in place. Sanders was a cap casualty for the Saints and bringing in competition for reps across from number one receiver Michael Thomas is a priority in many fan’s eyes. A prove-it deal for Westbrook in New Orleans under the guidance of Payton could be a win-win for both sides.
Veteran Linebacker Free Agents for the New Orleans Saints to Target
Adding depth to the front seven was a clear focus in the 2021 NFL Draft for the Saints. After adding defensive end Payton Turner in the first round, Loomis doubled down and drafted linebacker Pete Werner in the second round. Demario Davis is the defensive leader of the team but New Orleans could still add some depth to their linebacker room as Werner finds his feet at the pro level.
There’s not a lot of star power left on the linebacker market. B.J. Goodson is one of the younger options who started 14 games for the Cleveland Browns in 2020. Avery Williamson is a blitz specialist inside linebacker in a similar mold to Davis. However, he would likely be a spot replacement rather than play alongside the New Orleans defensive captain. There’s still an option for the Saints to bring back Kwon Alexander and Craig Robertson who both remain unsigned.
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