Updated March 9, 2026, 9:55 p.m. CT

It’s finally here. NFL free agency officially starts on Wednesday, March 11 at 3 p.m. CT, but the New Orleans Saints have been busy in the days leading up to the start of the new league year. The “legal tampering” negotiating window opened at 11 a.m. CT on Monday, March 9, and we’re off and running. While new contracts cannot be signed until Wednesday’s deadline, the Saints can now agree to deals with other teams’ free agents. The reverse is true, too, and we’ll find out soon if guys like Alontae Taylor, Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Luke Fortner are playing elsewhere in 2026.

After restructuring their contracts with Chase Young, Juwan Johnson, and Justin Reid while creatively reworking Alvin Kamara’s deal, Over the Cap estimates the Saints to be under the 2026 salary cap by almost $20 million. There are more levers they can pull to open up more cap space, so stay tuned.

We’ll be tracking all of the roster cuts, re-signings, trades, restructures and new signings as the Saints retool their roster for 2026. Tyler Shough gave them some hope down the stretch in 2025 and now they’re positioned to surprise some doubters — if they can make the right offseason moves.

Saints Wire is your source to track the lates news throughout free agency. Be sure to check this space often for instant analysis on every move and rumor.

Panthers reach agreement with rumored Saints target Devin Lloyd

Devin Lloyd won’t be joining the Saints after all. The Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker reached an agreement with the Carolina Panthers on a three-year deal worth $45 million, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport. The Saints were rumored to be competing for his services in the first day of free agency; true or not, Lloyd will be playing for a division rival. New Orleans will be competing against him head-to-head for the foreseeable future. Read more here.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Report: Other teams see Alvin Kamara as trade target

Reaching an agreement with Travis Etienne Jr. on a big-money deal might make Alvin Kamara expendable, and other teams are asking themselves if he could be moved in a trade, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Kamara doesn’t have a no-trade clause written into his contract but he has gone on the record to say he’d rather retire than play anywhere but New Orleans. Maybe his stance has changed by his loyalty not being reciprocated. It’s something to monitor in the days ahead. Read more here.

Rumor: Saints in pursuit of All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd

Video of the clip is tough to track down, but multiple ESPN viewers claimed that Jeremy Fowler said the Saints, Carolina Panthers, and Cincinnati Bengals were competing for Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd on Monday afternoon. That would line up with this vague tweet from Chris Olave’s brother in support of the move. The 27-year old Proo Bowler and second-team All-Pro played really well in 2025, and he would be an outstanding replacement for Demario Davis in the heart of Brandon Staley’s defense. Assuming the Saints are actually in on him. Maybe take this one with a grain of salt until we’ve got confirmation. Read more here.

Saints add another weapon in agreement with TE Noah Fant

The Saints tried to recruit Fant last year but weren’t able to cut a deal; that changed in 2026, with the veteran tight end agreeing to terms on a two-year contract, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. He’s a big target who made thee most out of limited opportunities last season, catching 34 of 38 passes thrown his way for 288 yards, 13 first downs, and three touchdowns. Read more here.

Alontae Taylor leaves Saints for $20M per year with Titans

Zoinks. Taylor is getting a three-year deal from the Tennessee Titans valued at $60 million, including $42 million in guarantees, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That’s a steep payday but it goes to show just how sought-after young, athletic corners with plenty of starting experience are in this market. He’s a big loss for the Saints as far as playmaking in the secondary but it’s an opportunity to clean up some of the missed tackles and coverage busts they dealt with in recent years. Good luck to Taylor in a new opportunity. Read more here.

Saints pull off their biggest move yet, reel in Bills guard David Edwards

And just like that, the offense might be fixed. Ian Rapoport reports for NFL Network that the Saints reached a deal with Buffalo Bills left guard David Edwards, adding the 29-year old to address their offensive line’s biggest vulnerability. Edwards did a stellar job keeping Josh Allen clean the last couple of years and now he’ll get to protect Tyler Shough. Guards tend to peak in their late 20’s and early 30’s, so the Saints just might have pounced at the right time. Read more here.

Saints agree to bring Travis Etienne Jr. back to Louisiana

Here’s that running back we were looking for. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was first to report that Etienne intends to sign with the Saints, bringing him closer to home (he’s from Jennings, La. two and a half hours’ drive from New Orleans). The former first-round pick ran hard for the Jacksonville Jaguars but is well-versed in the passing game. We’ll see what the contract terms look like and whether he and Alvin Kamara can coexist in the same backfield. Read more here.

Saints spend big to recruit punter Ryan Wright

Whew. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Saints reached an agreement with former Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright on a four-year contract worth $14 million, including $8 million guaranteed. Wright only had three touchbacks on 65 punts last season, placing 30 of them inside the 20-yard line and averaging 4.49 seconds of hangtime. Rookie Saints punter Kai Kroeger had four touchbacks on 10 fewer punts, with just 18 of them landing inside the 20. But he and Wright weren’t far apart in hangtime, either (4.41 seconds). The Saints have to be hoping Wright can clean up that phase of the game. Read more here.

Jets agree to terms with Saints LB Demario Davis

This is going to be a challenge to overcome. Davis is going back to the team that drafted him on a two-year deal worth $22 million, with $15 million in guarantees, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. It’s good money for the game’s oldest linebacker, and Davis will team up with his old coach Aaron Glenn as the New York Jets try to turn their fortunes around. Read more here.

Saints re-sign DT John Ridgeway

We’ve got movement. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that Ridgeway is returning to the Saints on a two-year deal valued at $6.2 million, which is good money for the backup nose tackle. Ridgeway started the 2025 season on injured reserve but played ahead of guys like Khristian Boyd once he returned to the lineup, and Brandon Staley clearly has plans for him going into 2026 and beyond. Read more here.