Updated Jan. 28, 2026, 2:39 p.m. CT
We’re about a month away from the first real movement in free agency kicking off, and the New Orleans Saints have some work to do. First and foremost, they’ve got to reach salary cap compliance. They aren’t starting in as deep a hole this year as we’ve seen before, and with plenty of cap resources to tap into for 2027 and 2028, we should expect some spending in 2026. Re-signing guys like Demario Davis and Cameron Jordan can help reduce that pressure on the cap, too.
But choosing which of their own free agents to re-sign takes priority over adding new names. Here are our predictions for each of the Saints free agents in 2026, which we divided into several tiers: big-name starters (90% or more of snaps), key contributors (50% or more of snaps, plus Taysom Hill), notable backups (20% or more of snaps), and other names to know.
Big-name starters drawing attention
LB Demario Davis. Davis led the team by playing 98.3% of snaps on defense, which is a really impressive feat given the 37-year old is the NFL’s oldest linebacker. He’s still performing at a high level but this may be his last big payday. If Davis gets a better offer from a Super Bowl contender, nobody should blame him for taking it. We’re guessing the money will be comparable and the Saints being loyal to a fault keeps him in New Orleans despite outside interest. Prediction: Stay
CB Alontae Taylor. Taylor is the only other free agent who played more than 90% of snaps on defense, having lined up in the slot on 566 reps (safety Justin Reid was a distant second at 118, and rookie Jonas Sanker was in third at 55). He also worked as a cornerback outside on almost 300 snaps. He’d be a big loss but the Saints have some depth at corner between Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley, and Isaac Yiadom. Taylor will be one of the top cornerbacks available and should draw plenty of attention on the open market. Prediction: Go
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Key contributors headed for free agency
EDGE Cameron Jordan. Jordan had a resurgence this year, rallying back with double-digit sacks after a couple of down years with Todd Grantham coaching the defensive line. He’s turning 37 in May but showed he can still play at a high level taking a step back in the rotation (46.6% of snaps compared to 66% for Carl Granderson and 72% for Chase Young when all three were active). Both sides want to get a deal done, and we expect them to. Prediction: Stay
LG Dillon Radunz. The 28-year old offensive lineman is a solid backup, but he shouldn’t be expected to start in 2026 after drawing eight penalty flags and giving up 23 pressures in 2025. It would be worth re-signing Radunz to be your seventh or eighth offensive lineman on game days. He just shouldn’t be part of the starting five. And it shouldn’t be too expensive to bring him back after he played on a $2.25 million deal last season. Prediction: Stay
C Luke Fortner. Trading for Fortner in the preseason ended up being a clutch move; the 28-year old backup started most of the season at center after Erik McCoy went down with an injury. He played well enough for the offense to function once Tyler Shough replaced Spencer Rattler at quarterback, but Fortner had his share of mistakes and miscues (giving up three sacks and three penalties). Same deal with Radunz; Fortner is worth re-signing for depth but he shouldn’t be seen as a viable alternative to McCoy. Prediction: Stay
TE Taysom Hill. This might be it for Hill, whose last game at the Superdome was treated as a last hurrah, and who hasn’t looked like his old self after a major knee injury ended his 2024 season. Maybe he finally joins Sean Payton on the Denver Broncos. Maybe he takes up coaching. Maybe he goes home to Idaho. But it sure feels like Hill’s time with the Saints is over. Prediction: Go
Notable backups whose contracts are up
EDGE Chris Rumph II. Rumph, 28, didn’t make a huge impact with so few snaps to go around at the bottom of the edge rusher rotation but the team valued his steadiness in run defense. They should look to get more out of that fourth edge defender spot. With that said, Rumph played about 30% of snaps on the minimum salary last year and should be easy to retain. Prediction: Stay
DT Jonathan Bullard. Bullard was a late signing in the summer and wound up playing the fourth-most snaps at defensive tackle. The 33-year old was one of several interior defensive linemen on the wrong side of 30 who saw a lot of reps. The Saints need to get younger at this position. Hopefully they have a plan for a youth movement in the trenches. Prediction: Go
DT Jonah Williams. Another defensive lineman north of 30, Williams also played 300-plus snaps in the rotation, and he did have a couple of sacks and pressures in some big moments. The Saints mainly valued his experience in Brandon Staley’s system. Now that they’ve had a year to coach that up and churn the depth chart, they should look to get younger. Prediction: Go
TE Foster Moreau. Moreau is one of the few tone-setters the Saints have had on offense but he didn’t get many touches as the second tight end, and they can get more out of this position group while Juwan Johnson remains on top of the depth chart. Moreau is a good locker room guy to have around, but the team should explore their options here. So should he. Prediction: Go
Other names to know in free agency