The New Orleans Saints will report to training camp in a little over a month. Coming off a 5-12 record last year, the Saints brought in a new coach in Kellen Moore, along with a new staff and several fresh faces on both sides of the ball. Included among the new coaches is defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Staley is expected to employ more 3-4 alignments, yet the Saints have made only a few significant additions on the defensive side.

Rookie draft picks DT Vernon Broughton, LB Danny Stutsman, and CB Quincy Riley will likely see a good bit of action. Additionally, the Saints also traded for nose tackle Davon Godchaux and signed safety Justin Reid. After ranking 30th in total defense last year and under new coaching and philosophy, New Orleans may look to add another defensive free agent or two. Here are some intriguing players on this side that might attract some interest.

Defensive tackle

▪︎ Linval Joseph (age: 36)▪︎ Raekwon Davis (27)▪︎ Khalil Davis (28)

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The Saints have a lot of bodies up front, but Godchaux and second-year DT Khristian Boyd look like the only potential nose tackles. If Staley is going to play more three-man fronts, as expected, then the line will need a big-bodied space-eater in the middle. Joseph played in Staley’s defense with the Chargers in 2021.

EDGE/Defensive end

▪︎ DeMarcus Walker (30)▪︎ Preston Smith (32)▪︎ Kyzir White (29)▪︎ Von Miller (36)▪︎ Matt Judon (32)

Like at defensive tackle, not much to pick from here. However, the Saints also only got a combined 17 sacks from their edge position last year and added nothing but seventh-round pick Fadil Diggs this offseason. Nobody on this list can offer more than a situational pass rusher at this stage of their careers. Still, it might be enough for a position that provided little disruption for New Orleans over the last two years.

Linebacker

▪︎ Ja’Whaun Bentley (28)▪︎ Tyler Matakevich (32)▪︎ Khaleke Hudson (32)

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The Saints are probably set here. Demario Davis is still playing at a high level and has a steady complement in Pete Werner. Rookie fourth-round pick Danny Stutsman looks like a good fit for Staley’s defense, as does 2024 Round 5 choice Jaylan Ford. Bentley may be a sneaky good pickup, however, if recovered from last year’s pectoral injury.

Cornerback

▪︎ Asante Samuel (25)▪︎ James Bradberry (31)▪︎ Kendall Fuller (30)▪︎ Emmanuel Moseley (29)▪︎ Mike Hilton (31)▪︎ Rasul Douglas (30)

Since November, the Saints have lost corners Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo. They responded by drafting Quincy Riley in Round 4 and re-signing Isaac Yiadom. Kool-Aid McKinstry looks like a potential star, but New Orleans needs a solid complement opposite him so Alontae Taylor can be used around the formation where he’s more effective. There are still a few talented corners available, but Samuel makes the most sense if he recovers from recent neck surgery. He was also drafted by Staley and the Chargers back in 2021 and played his first three years in his defensive system.

Safety

▪︎ Jordan Whitehead (28)▪︎ Marcus Williams (29)▪︎ Justin Simmons (31)▪︎ Julian Blackmon (27)▪︎ Quandre Diggs (32)▪︎ John Johnson (29)▪︎ K’Von Wallace (28)

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Similar to cornerback, there is a surprising amount of safety talent still available. It’s hard to imagine New Orleans pursuing another safety unless it believe that one of them significantly upgrades the slot coverage. The Saints inked Justin Reid as their biggest addition on the defensive side, then used a third-round pick on box safety Jonas Sanker. Reid will team with Tyrann Mathieu and Alontae Taylor to give the Saints a versatile cover trio, while the addition of Sanker should keep Mathieu from spending as much time in the box.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL free agency: Defensive players the Saints could consider signing