25 best free agents available for the New Orleans Saints
The big waves of free agency have passed us by -- but are the New Orleans Saints a better team for it? They've lost free agents like starting cornerback Paulson Adebo (to the New York Giants), veteran safety Will Harris (to the Washington Commanders), and playmaking wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling (to the Seattle Seahawks) while bringing in new faces including two-time Super Bowl champion safety Justin Reid, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux (in a trade with the New England Patriots), and cornerback Isaac Yiadom, who they've gotten good reps from before. Defensive lineman Chase Young and tight end Juwan Johnson are back, too.
But the Saints missed out on guys like cornerback Chardarius Ward and wide receiver Cooper Kupp. So what's next for them in free agency? A good starting point is evaluating the players who are still available. Here are 25 potential Saints signings at positions of need along with their projected market value from Spotrac.
Best available free agents for the New Orleans Saints
- WR Amari Cooper: It took some time for Cooper to get going after being traded to the Buffalo Bills last season, and his playoff performance (6 catches for 41 yards in three games) was uninspiring. But he was a Pro Bowler the year before and has made plays with Kellen Moore on the headset before. He may be out of New Orleans' price range with a projected salary of $19 million per year. Signing him would impact the 2026 comp picks formula.
- WR Stefon Diggs: Could an infamous Saints villain pull off a face turn? Diggs reached four consecutive Pro Bowls and was cruising towards his seventh 1,000-yard season in a row before suffering an ACL tear in September. That injury, combined with his age (he'll turn 32 in November), is going to hurt his value as a free agent but he can still play. Projected salary: $13 million per year. Will not impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- CB Rasul Douglas: Douglas hasn't returned to the heights he experienced earlier in his career, and the Saints may be hesitant to spend big on cornerback after bringing back Isaac Yiadom (even if it was a low-cost deal). But he's still known for his ball skills and could thrive in the right system. Projected salary: $13.25 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- WR Keenan Allen: Allen has thrived in Kellen Moore's offense before and could do so again, though Cooper Kupp's big payday with the Seattle Seahawks probably raises his own asking-price. The Saints need someone like him who can move the chains and box out smaller defenders. Projected salary: $11.1 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- LT Cam Robinson: The Saints don't need a left tackle, but Robinson should be mentioned on any "best remaining free agents" list anyway. He had a good year with the Jacksonville Jaguars and should be starting somewhere on Sundays in the fall. What if Kellen Moore agrees with some draft analysts and thinks Taliese Fuaga could be a better guard than tackle? Projected salary: $14 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- LG Teven Jenkins: Injuries and position switches have been challenges for Jenkins, but he settled in at left guard last year and could be an asset for the Saints, who don't have a starter at that spot on the roster right now. But Jenkins has fielded offers from multiple teams and won't come cheap. Projected salary: $10.3 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- CB Asante Samuel Jr.: A longtime standout in Brandon Staley's secondary with the L.A. Chargers, Samuel won't fit every scheme due to his smaller frame but there's no questioning his athleticism and playmaking ability. Like other corners on this list, you just wonder if the Saints are done spending on their defensive backfield. He's also coming off a serious shoulder injury in 2024. Projected salary: $11.5 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- CB Mike Hilton: One of the best slot specialists in the game, Hilton is seeking to get paid like it, and he'll likely be a big pickup somewhere. Signing him would free up Alontae Taylor to return to his college position on the boundary (where he played well his rookie year, too). But he'll be expensive. Projected salary: $12.3 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- LT Tyron Smith: Again, the Saints don't need a left tackle given how well Fuaga played as a rookie. But you never know. Moore and several coaches on staff have seen how great Smith can be, even at his age, and if they feel that Fuaga can put out one fire at guard while Smith puts a band-aid on the tackle spot, this might be their move. Projected salary: $7.5 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- WR Tyler Lockett: .Lockett was a model of consistency for a long time, but Father Time is undefeated, and at this point in his career asking him to lead a passing attack just isn't realistic. He's still a highly-respected veteran and could help any receiving room in the league, but at his size (5-foot-10 and 182 pounds) he may not appeal to the Saints. Projected salary: $7.7 million per year. Will not impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- EDGE Azeez Ojulari: We're guessing Chase Young, Carl Granderson, and Isaiah Foskey will play a lot of outside linebacker in Staley's 3-4 base defense while Cameron Jordan spends more time over the tackle, which means they need another pass rusher who can attack from out wide. That's Ojulari's bread and butter with 5.5 or more sacks in three of his four seasons. He could be a big help in the right role as a third-down pass rusher. Projected salary: $7.5 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- DL Calais Campbell: Campbell took less money to play for a Miami Dolphins team expected to be a contender in 2024, so the Saints would have to pay a premium to get him in 2025. There aren't many guys like him in today's game. He's a vocal leader and could do a lot to transform New Orleans' defensive line from a weakness to a strength. But he'll turn 39 this year and may decide he's played enough football, unless a Super Bowl favorite comes calling. Projected salary: $7 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- RG Brandon Scherff: Scherff isn't the same guy he once was, setting records for guard salaries and winning All-Pro votes, but he's still a capable starter. You could do a lot worse than signing him to start the 2025 season and help train his replacement. At the same time, he may have higher ambitions and choose to wait for a better opportunity where he can join a playoff contender. Projected salary: $6.7 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- RB J.K. Dobbins: Dobbins roared back to relevance last year with 905 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns in 13 games, but the sorry state of running back contracts mean it's tough to see him being rewarded for it. The Saints need to revamp their depth chart behind Alvin Kamara and he's a better No. 2 than Jamaal Williams would have been, or Kendre Miller is likely to be. The Saints should still look into picking a rookie from this great draft class even if they add him. Projected salary: $4 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- S Justin Simmons: The Saints made a push to recruit Simmons last year, and the pro personnel department probably still has a high grade on him. But many of the coaches he would have wanted to play with aren't on the team anymore. Would the Saints be willing to pay what he's seeking after signing Justin Reid to a big contract? Projected salary: $5.8 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- WR Brandin Cooks: Cooks has ben traded from one team to the next throughout his career, but the former Saints first-round pick finally gets his chance to test the free agency market. It would be wild if he ended up coming back to New Orleans after all. His name has been floated around and the Saints do need a veteran wideout, but his skill set overlaps with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed so much it's worth wondering if he adds much to the team. Projected salary: $5.2 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- CB Stephon Gilmore: Gilmore's best days are behind him at this point though he still had some nice moments with the Minnesota Vikings last year. If he wants to keep playing football, more of these one-year deals are probably the best he can expect. He's more of a viable starter than Isaac Yiadom or a mid-round draft pick, but the Saints need a long-term answer at the spot where Marshon Lattimore used to line up. Projected salary: $5.3 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- WR Elijah Moore: Moore could really benefit from stable quarterback play; going from one mess with the New York Jets to another on the Cleveland Browns did him no favors. A team that graded him highly before the 2021 draft could roll the dice here, but just like other undersized receivers on this list, it's fair to ask how much he offers a team like the Saints. Projected salary: $4.5 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- LB Kyzir White: White had a career-high 144 tackles in Brandon Staley's defense back in 2021, but he's bounced around the league since then with stops on the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. He graded well in run defense (18 tackles for loss the last two years) but struggled to keep up in coverage last season. How much is a third linebacker worth to a team expecting to run nickel personnel on 70% or more of their snaps? Projected salary: $5.7 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- RG Will Hernandez: Hernandez has played both guard spots, though his most reason action came on the right side, so he could be a solid option for the Saints in free agency. He did suffer a season-ending knee injury just five games into the 2024 season so that's something to be mindful of. Projected salary: $4.3 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- EDGE Matthew Judon: Judon is kind of cut from the same cloth as Cameron Jordan, as someone naturally talented at stopping the run but who may struggle to push the pocket with age. A down year with the Falcons hurt his value. Projected salary: $4.2 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- RG Liam Eichenberg: Eichenberg has played all five offensive line spots at some point in the NFL; most recently, he logged more than 1,000 snaps at right guard with the Miami Dolphins. But he's played plenty of games at left guard, too. You'd probably want to draft someone to compete with him if he's expected to start in 2025. Projected salary: $4.9 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- QB Cooper Rush: Derek Carr isn't long for New Orleans, and we don't know how Kellen Moore feels about his backups. Expect Moore to start bringing in his own quarterbacks sooner or later. Rush has won more games and thrown more touchdown passes than Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener put together, and he's largely done it with Moore calling his plays. Projected salary: $5 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- EDGE Dennis Gardeck: Gardeck had a breakout 2023 season with the Arizona Cardinals in Jonathan Gannon's defense, which carries a lot of similarities to what Brandon Staley is installing He was playing well in 2024 until he suffered a season-ending knee injury after seven games. His medicals need to check out but he could be worth bringing in as competition for Isaiah Foskey. Projected salary: $5.2 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
- LT Jedrick Wills Jr.: The Saints don't have any depth behind Fuaga at left tackle; they drafted Josiah Ezirim late in last year's draft but stashed him on the practice squad while teaching him to play right tackle. Wills could be a smart reclamation project as a former top-10 draft pick. Projected salary: $2.2 million per year. Will impact 2026 comp picks formula.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL free agency: 25 best players available for the New Orleans Saints
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