After missing the playoff for the third straight season, the New Orleans Saints are once again left looking for ways to build a contender. There are a lot of holes on the Saints roster, but the first step to fixing the team comes by taking care of their own free agents. New Orleans is currently well over the salary cap, but this team has always found a way to make the money work, and there’s no reason to think that this won’t happen again. Dennis Allen probably needs to get the Saints to the playoffs next year if he wants to keep his job, so this team will not embrace a rebuild in 2024. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the players the Saints should (and shouldn’t) bring back for the upcoming season.
Note: This list only applies to the Saints unrestricted free agents. Exclusive rights free agents like Rashid Shaheed are not included since they will not test the open market.
New Orleans Saints Free Agents: Who To Keep And Let Go
Keep
Andrus Peat
Andrus Peat is no Trent Williams, as evidenced by his 60.2 PFF grade. However, he might be the Saints best free agent option. The impending free agent tackles are largely terrible, as Michael Onwenu is the only good one expected to hit the market. With Trevor Penning struggling and Ryan Ramczyk’s knee potentially being a long-term issue, New Orleans needs bodies that are physically capable of playing tackle. Peat can be a short-term answer while the team uses their first-round pick on someone like Taliese Fuaga.
Jameis Winston
Derek Carr is going to spend at least one more season with the Saints, but that doesn’t mean they should let their free agent backup join another organization. Carr is not the long-term answer, and if he doesn’t improve in 2024, he won’t be the short-term answer either. Given his uncertain job status, it’s hard to imagine Dennis Allen selecting a quarterback in the first round when that player cannot help the organization until at least 2025. Jameis Winston is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league and is a sound insurance policy if Carr continues to underwhelm.
Trai Turner
The New Orleans Saints need help at guard, and Trai Turner might be the free agent for the job. While he is over 30 and coming off a season-ending injury, he is a decent starter when healthy. At the end of the day, Turner probably won’t break the bank in free agency, and the Saints should be comfortable making a low-risk, medium-reward investment in someone who can address a serious position of need.
Let Go
James Hurst
Free agent James Hurst is a big reason the Saints have a need at guard in the first place. The offensive lineman finished the 2023 season with an unimpressive 58.7 PFF grade and is entering his age-32 season. At this point, New Orleans should be able to find a better and cheaper option on the open market.
Cameron Erving
Speaking of versatile offensive linemen who are past their prime, Cameron Erving appears to be at the end of the road. The Saints do need all the offensive line help they can get, but Erving is more of a hindrance than anything else. The impending free agent finished what will probably be his final year with the Saints with a 49.0 PFF grade. He didn’t have enough snaps to qualify for the leaderboard, but if he had, he would’ve ranked 76th out of 83 eligible tackles. Like Hurst, he’s on the wrong side of 30 and probably won’t be getting better at this point in his career.
Jimmy Graham
We’ll always have that magical 2011-2014 run, Jimmy Graham. The former third-round pick was one of the best in the league at his position at the peak of his career, but that peak came over a decade ago. Now, the Miami product is one of the oldest free agents in the league, and it’s hard to see why the Saints would want to bring him back.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – USA Today Sports
