3 Potential Free Agents For the New Orleans Saints

The NFL season is around the corner, and the New Orleans Saints have been busy this offseason, adding free agents to fill some holes on their roster. The heat of the free agency period is over, but there is still talent out there the Saints could add to bolster their chances of making it back to the playoffs after missing out for two consecutive seasons. Heading into the offseason, the Saints’ main needs were to add a quarterback and revamp their defensive line.

The Saints didn’t waste any time adding Derek Carr into the picture, and New Orleans used free agency to add key pieces to the interior of their defensive line. New Orleans could use another target for their wide receiver core, a defensive lineman that can play on the opposite side of Cam Jordan, and another linebacker that can be added into the mix. With that, here are three potential free agents the Saints can add to their roster before the season begins in September.

Jarvis Landry, Wide Receiver

Saints WR Jarvis Landry (5) – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Wide receiver isn’t a glaring need for the Saints heading into the 2023 season, but the Saints could use a true WR3 to be in the mix alongside Michael Thomas and Chris Olave. New Orleans also saw the development of Rashid Shaheed last season, as he showed his elite speed when he has the ball in his hands. Jarvis Landry spent the 2022 season with New Orleans, but injuries held him out for the majority of the season. Injuries brought down the hype of the wide receiver core heading into the season, as Thomas and Landry were sidelined for most of the season.

Landry already knows the Saints’ playbook, and it makes sense for the black and gold to hold onto a veteran at the wide receiver position. He will be determined to have a bounce-back season after setting career lows in targets (39), receptions (25), receiving yards (272), touchdown catches (1), and first-down conversions (12). He wasn’t able to establish any rhythm with the offense being sidelined with an injury, but he would benefit from Carr being the QB1 for the Saints.

Kwon Alexander, Linebacker

Jets LB Kwon Alexander (9) – Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Linebacker is one of the strong suits for the Saints led by Demario Davis and Pete Werner. Davis is coming off another stellar season in 2022 as he earned his first Pro Bowl nod of his career. Werner, like many other Saints during the 2022 season, was sidelined for most of the season due to an injury. When he is on the field, Werner and Davis can be a dynamic duo that imposes their will against the opposing defense.

New Orleans also lost Kaden Elliss in free agency, and that was a big hit to the linebacker depth chart for the Saints. New Orleans should be looking for a replacement for Elliss, as he played a pivotal role while Werner was unavailable.

The Saints could be looking into having a reunion with Kwon Alexander. Alexander was acquired via trade in the middle of the 2020 season by the Saints, and he was able to make an immediate impact. The LSU product posted 29 tackles, four passes defended, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in his debut season in New Orleans. In his second season with the franchise, Alexander posted 39 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two passes defended, and one interception. He spent the 2022 season with the New York Jets and continued to be a force on the defensive side of the ball.

Yannick Ngakoue, Defensive End

Colts DE Yannick Ngakoue (91) – Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Revamping the defensive line has been a main priority for the Saints this offseason, and they could use another piece to finish off the puzzle before the 2023 season starts. The defensive end position is led by Cam Jordan. While Jordan has been a consistent part of the Saints’ defense, he isn’t getting any younger. New Orleans could use a veteran defensive end that can play on the opposite side of Jordan. The Saints Carl Granderson would be the projected right defensive end. Granderson slides into the starting spot after Marcus Davenport was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings during free agency.

There is still valuable players that can help out the Saints defensive line in free agency, and Yannick Ngakoue would be a perfect fit for New Orleans. Ngakoue has spent the past two seasons with two different teams, the Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts. He would join an experienced Saints defense that has proven they haven’t reached their ceiling just yet. The Saints have a clear need at edge rusher and Ngakoue would be able to add to that experience the Saints roster already has installed. The Maryland product has recorded at least 8.0 sacks and double-digit quarterback hits in every season of his career.