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The Saints’ bold free agency moves have reshaped their roster, setting the stage for a new era of high-octane offense and defensive transition.New Orleans Today
According to anonymous NFL executives, the New Orleans Saints made an ‘impressive’ set of moves in free agency this offseason. The Saints added speed on offense with the signings of running back Travis Etienne and tight end Noah Fant, while also getting younger on defense despite the losses of veteran leaders like Demario Davis. While the Saints are still working to get out of ‘cap hell,’ rival GMs were complimentary of the team’s forward-thinking approach to contracts.
Why it matters
The Saints’ free agent class is seen as a key step in the team’s ongoing transition to a younger, faster roster after several years of salary cap challenges. If the new additions on offense and defense can make an impact, it could help the Saints return to the playoffs in 2026 and set them up for long-term success.
The details
The Saints made several notable moves in free agency, including signing running back Travis Etienne and tight end Noah Fant to add more speed and explosiveness to the offense. They also lost veteran leaders like linebacker Demario Davis, but one executive said ‘they are not trying to build around 30-year-olds.’ The Saints took a more forward-thinking approach to contracts, avoiding the ‘ghost years’ they’ve used in the past to manage the salary cap.
The Saints’ free agent moves took place in March and April 2026.
The players
Travis Etienne
A running back signed by the Saints in free agency to add speed and explosiveness to the offense.
Noah Fant
A tight end signed by the Saints in free agency to provide a pass-catching threat and more speed on offense.
Demario Davis
A veteran linebacker who left the Saints in free agency, creating a leadership void on defense.
Cameron Jordan
A veteran defensive lineman who may follow Demario Davis out the door in free agency as the Saints continue to get younger.
David Edwards
A 29-year-old guard signed by the Saints, who the team hopes can continue playing at a high level as he enters his prime.
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What they’re saying
“The Saints’ build is impressive, I’ll give them that. (Travis) Etienne is a fast guy that has juice on that turf. Losing Demario Davis and his leadership is tough. We liked Alontae Taylor as well. Those defensive losses are huge, but they make sense. They are not trying to build around 30-year-olds.”
— Anonymous team executive
“They are limited because of the cap, and so you can’t go wrong investing in O-line. They got younger at running back. Outside of (Chris) Olave, they did not have much speed. Adding (Noah) Fant and Etienne, they definitely got a lot faster. Kaden Elliss is solid.”
— Anonymous executive
“They are slowly and steadily getting out of cap hell, and making moves that don’t hamper flexibility is smart.”
— Anonymous executive
What’s next
The Saints will look to continue building their roster through the 2026 NFL Draft, where they could target additional young talent to complement their free agent additions.
The takeaway
The Saints’ free agent class has been praised by rival executives as a smart, forward-thinking approach to rebuilding the roster with younger, faster players. While they still have some salary cap challenges to overcome, the Saints appear to be on the right track to return to contention in the NFC.