{"id":860908,"date":"2026-04-08T12:55:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:55:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/860908\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T12:55:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:55:25","slug":"how-saints-busy-free-agency-sets-them-up-for-the-nfl-draft-saints-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/860908\/","title":{"rendered":"How Saints’ busy free agency sets them up for the NFL draft | Saints"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kellen Moore<\/a> knows NFL teams shoot for the same goal during free agency. With the NFL draft largely unpredictable, the idea is to do enough so that when the picks come flying in that April, reaching to fill a major need isn\u2019t a necessity.<\/p>\n

There are exceptions \u2014 some teams avoid the frenzy altogether \u2014 but every organization wants to maintain flexibility ahead of the draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like we\u2019re in a healthy spot in that case,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

The Saints\u2019 moves in free agency explain why. In committing more than $183 million worth of contracts \u2014 and guaranteeing more than $116 million, according to Over The Cap \u2014 to 11 players, New Orleans took steps to shore up its struggling running game and replace a key leader after linebacker Demario Davis bolted for the New York Jets.<\/p>\n

As a result, the Saints appear to have the flexibility that they wanted. Signing running back Travis Etienne, for instance, makes it less of a blow if \u2014 or when \u2014 Notre Dame\u2019s Jermemiyah Love is drafted before New Orleans is on the clock at No. 8. Replacing Davis with Kaden Elliss also lessens the need for drafting an off-ball linebacker, even though this is viewed as an extremely strong class for that position.<\/p>\n

Not every spot, of course, was filled.<\/p>\n

The Saints could really use another wide receiver to give quarterback Tyler Shough more weapons, even as the team negotiates a long-term deal with Chris Olave. The defense is missing a starting nickel cornerback following Alontae Taylor’s signing with the Tennessee Titans. The Saints have long wanted to get younger at edge rusher, while adding further help in the trenches \u2014 on both sides of the ball \u2014 remains a goal.<\/p>\n

But even with those needs, the Saints arguably aren\u2019t in a spot where they have to get desperate.<\/p>\n

Look at cornerback. On the surface, drafting safety Caleb Downs or cornerback Mansoor Delane eighth overall would make sense to replace Taylor. Downs is a versatile piece that can play multiple spots, while picking Delane would allow the Saints to kick someone like Quincy Riley inside. That said, teams can very well find nickel cornerbacks later in the draft. That alleviates some of the pressure New Orleans might otherwise face in Round 1.<\/p>\n

The same can be said about wide receiver, as well. There\u2019s a good chance that at least one of Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon will still be available when the Saints are set to pick. If the Saints, though, prefer to prioritize another position first, they can likely get away with waiting. Chris Bell, Ted Hurst and Malachi Fields are all Day 2 wideouts that could be a good consolation prize for a team in need of an offensive spark.<\/p>\n

Venturing past the third round to find a wideout could be a risk, but if the Saints don\u2019t noticeably improve their wide receiving room in the draft, that\u2019s partly why the Saints committed to overhauling their rushing attack. The Saints not only made Etienne the ninth-highest paid player at his position, but also signing guard David Edwards to a notable four-year, $61 million contract ensures that Etienne should have enough room to run upfront.<\/p>\n

In a lot of ways, a seven-round draft gives teams a healthy amount of leeway regardless of free agency. But make no mistake, this year is much different for the Saints than 2024 \u2014 a draft that screamed \u201ctackle-or-bust\u201d in the first round. The Saints ended up drafting tackle Taliese Fuaga, to the surprise of no one.<\/p>\n

The Saints are also in a place where they can perhaps afford to swing on a prospect. Miami defensive end Rueben Bain is a polarizing pass rusher because of his 30 \u215e-inch arm length and undersized frame, but his speed and bend could be the missing piece for a New Orleans defense that took a noticeable leap last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re slightly off a prototype, you\u2019ve got to be a really productive player,\u201d Moore said. \u201cHave the ability to make plays and have done it over an extended period of time to kind of showcase that. There\u2019s a lot of conversations to be had about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bain certainly doesn\u2019t fit the Saints\u2019 historical prototype, which leans toward long, athletic edge rushers. But his track record at Miami \u2014 20 \u00bd sacks in three years \u2014 indicates he satisfies Moore\u2019s requirement of production. And given that New Orleans has whiffed on some of their drafted pass rushers over the last five years, and considering last year\u2019s scheme change, maybe Bain is worth the exception if he\u2019s still available.<\/p>\n

At the very least, the Saints have options.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kellen Moore knows NFL teams shoot for the same goal during free agency. With the NFL draft largely…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":860909,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2076],"tags":[7,4095,896,55,2572,2571,6,397],"class_list":{"0":"post-860908","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-orleans-saints","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-hardwall","10":"tag-new-orleans","11":"tag-new-orleans-saints","12":"tag-neworleans","13":"tag-neworleanssaints","14":"tag-nfl","15":"tag-saints"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116369196781671314","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=860908"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860908\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/860909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=860908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=860908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=860908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}