The Saints’ newest wide receiver, 6-foot-5 Damien Alford, was one of the CFL’s best deep threats at 20.4 yards per reception. But he can make concentration catches, toopic.twitter.com/r8GSfyfnrj
— John Sigler (@john_siglerr) January 6, 2026
Here’s an interesting pickup. The New Orleans Saints are signing wide receiver Damien Alford to a reserve/futures contract, per 3 Down Nation’s Justin Dunk. Alford played college football at Syracuse and Utah before turning pro last year, where he put up some impressive numbers at the Big 12 Pro Day — weighing in at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds with a 4.46-second time in the 40 yard dash.
While he wasn’t drafted to the NFL, Alford was the first overall pick in the 2025 CFL Draft. He had a strong debut with the Calgary Stampeders and quickly established himself as one of the Canadian league’s best deep threats, averaging 20.4 yards per catch. He totaled 20 receptions for 407 receiving yards and five touchdown catches. Dunk adds that Alford tried out in New Orleans back in November and passed on workouts with other teams after the Saints offered him a sizeable signing bonus.
He’s an interesting prospect to add to the receiving corps for 2026. With a big frame and big-play potential, Alford brings something that may have been missing (or at least limited to DeVaughn Vele as the only other big man in the group). These are the Saints wideouts under contract for 2026 from lightest to heaviest:
Mason Tipton: 5-foot-11, 187 poundsChris Olave: 6-foot-0, 187 poundsTrey Palmer: 6-foot-1, 190 poundsRonnie Bell: 6-foot-0, 192 poundsSamori Toure: 6-foot-1, 196 poundsKevin Austin Jr.: 6-foot-2, 200 poundsJa’Lynn Polk: 6-foot-1, 203 poundsDevaughn Vele: 6-foot-5, 210 poundsBub Means: 6-foot-2, 215 poundsElijah Cooks: 6-foot-4, 215 poundsDamien Alford: 6-foot-5, 215 pounds
Veteran backup Dante Pettis, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, is a free agent in 2026.