We’ve already gone over the list of New Orleans Saints players who will be free agents in 2026, and what each of the different classifications mean for them — exclusive rights free agents, restricted free agents, unrestricted FA’s, and the handful of veterans whose voiding contracts will leave behind dead money if the Saints don’t re-sign them. But what about the players who are under contract for next year?

After reaching the midway point of the 2025 season, and with the Saints taking a breather on their bye week, it’s as good a time as any to check in on the shape of the team’s 2026 roster. Here’s a quick look at each position group. We’ve broken them into categories of players who are under contract for next year, those who are eligible to return on minimum salaries from the practice squad or as exclusive rights free agents, and those true free agents who could reach the market (and who the Saints may need to re-sign). Altogether, that puts the Saints at 61 players against their 90-man offseason roster limit. Let’s get to it.

QuarterbacksUnder contract: Tyler Shough, Spencer RattlerPractice squad/ERFA: Jake Haener, Hunter DekkersFree agents: Taysom Hill

Kellen Moore’s coaching staff lists Hill as a quarterback, so that’s where he slots in here. The Saints will take on $13.7 million in dead money next year if they don’t sign him to a new deal, but he may choose to retire. We’re expecting a lot of turnover here whether or not Shough holds onto the starting job but signing a veteran in free agency feels unlikely.

Running backsUnder contract: Alvin Kamara, Devin Neal, Audric Estime, Kendre MillerPractice squad/ERFA: Evan HullFree agents: None

This is a major position of need; the Saints need someone with real juice in the backfield. Neal has shown he can help the offense as a third-down back, but Miller is still the most athletically gifted player in the group, at least before his knee injury. Kamara is going to be thinking about retirement sooner or later and 2026 is the last year of his contract.

Tight endsUnder contract: Juwan JohnsonPractice squad/ERFA: Moliki Matavao, Treyton Welch, Mason Pline, Zaire Mitchell-PadenFree agents: Foster Moreau, Jack Stoll

You’d like to have another playmaker here given Johnson’s inconsistency. Most of the depth chart behind him should return given how cost-effective it would be for the Saints, but there’s certainly room for someone else closer to the top. Moreau leaving in free agency would leave behind just $1.4 million in dead money, which is negligible, but he’s a good locker room guy to keep around.

Offensive lineUnder contract: Kelvin Banks Jr., Nick Saldiveri, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Taliese Fuaga, Torricelli Simpkins III, Asim Richards, Xavier TrussPractice squad/ERFA: Barry Wesley, Easton Kilty, William ShermanFree agents: Dillon Radunz, Luke Fortner, Landon Young, Will Clapp

Man. Four of the five Week 1 starters are likely returning, and you’d like to keep Fortner or Clapp as insurance policies for McCoy, but that left guard spot is a nightmare. Radunz could earn a nice extension through these next seven games if the Saints can keep running well behind him. At some point the Saints need to consider upgrading from Ruiz at right guard. It won’t be easy after they tied up so much money restructuring his contract.

Wide receiversUnder contract: Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, Brandin Cooks, Mason Tipton, Trey Palmer, Ja’Lynn Polk, Bub MeansPractice squad/ERFA: Kevin Austin Jr., Ronnie Bell, Dante PettisFree agents: None

Cooks might retire after this season, or at least ask to be let go so he can join a contending team for the final stage of his career. He and Pettis are also the only players in this group older than 30 (and Vele, 27, is the only other one over 25). It would be nice to see if Palmer or Polk can add a spark to the offense but we’ll have to wait with both of them on injured reserve. Someone needs to step up and replace Rashid Shaheed, or else the Saints need to go shopping.

Special teamsUnder contract: Kai Kroeger (punter), Zach Wood (snapper)Practice squad/ERFA: Charlie Smyth (kicker)Free agents: Blake Grupe (kicker)

Grupe is a restricted free agent, so the Saints can lock him in for about $3.3 million on an RFA tender or work on a contract extension. He’s also ranking 31st out of 34 qualifying kickers with a success rate of 73.9% right now, so they could easily justify going in a new direction (especially if Kellen Moore hires his own special teams staff after inheriting Darren Rizzi’s assistants). Is Smyth ready for his regular season debut?

Edge rushersUnder contract: Chase Young, Carl GrandersonPractice squad/ERFA: Fadil Diggs, Eku LeotaFree agents: Cameron Jordan, Chris Rumph II

Jordan needs to make a decision on whether to retire or keep going. If he’s done after 2025, the Saints will have to deal with an $18.76 million lump of dead money in 2026. They could kick that can down the road, a little, if he wants to play another year. Rumph would be worth keeping for another look at training camp. If the Saints are in a position to draft someone like Arvell Reece early, he’s an ideal mentor as someone with a ton of experience in Brandon Staley’s system.

Defensive lineUnder contract: Bryan Bresee, Davon Godchaux, Nathan Shepherd, Vernon Broughton, Khristian BoydPractice squad/ERFA: Coziah IzzardFree agents: Jonathan Bullard, Jonah Williams, John Ridgeway III

This group is a mess. Bresee is the only guy under 30 getting meaningful snaps this season. Both Boyd and Ridgeway have been healthy scratches. Losing Broughton to a season-ending injury badly disrupted their plans, but the Saints still need more young blood here. The jury is out on whether or not Bresee is a long-term fit in the defense that Staley wants to run.

LinebackersUnder contract: Pete Werner, Danny Stutsman, Jaylan FordPractice squad/ERFA: Isaiah Stalbird, Nephi SewellFree agents: Demario Davis

Davis is another veteran with a decision to make. If he decides to call it a career after 2025, the Saints are left with $14.29 million in dead money. If he keeps going, that number drops, but it doesn’t go away. Werner has been a frustrating player for a few years now but there might be something there with him and Stutsman as a long-term duo.

SafetiesUnder contract: Jonas Sanker, Justin Reid, Jordan HowdenPractice squad/ERFA: Elliott DavisonFree agents: Justin Blackmon, Terrell Burgess, Ugo Amadi

Sanker looks like a keeper. Howden hasn’t quite met expectations. Reid definitely hasn’t but there isn’t an easy way out of his contract with $9.25 million guaranteed next year. The best course of action may be to ride it out while developing his replacing as a tag-team partner for Sanker. If the Saints win enough games to where they’re not picking top-three anymore, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs would be more a transformative pickup than a consolation prize.

CornerbacksUnder contract: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley, Isaac Yiadom, Rejzohn WrightPractice squad/ERFA: Dalys Beanum, Jayden PriceFree agents: Alontae Taylor, Michael Davis

Did you know Taylor is the only Week 1 starter headed for free agency?* He’s expressed interest in a long-term contract extension, but it doesn’t sound like the Saints are going to meet his number, so they’ll need to find a slot specialist or at least another starter-quality corner. That’s easiest to do through the draft, but the more Riley does to earn his coaches’ trust, the less of a priority that becomes.

*Not counting Blake Grupe, a specialist, or Dillon Radunz, who played behind Trevor Penning when he was available