The Saints are overall probably in the best position this offseason, with about $28 million in cap space. This financial flexibility comes on the heels of the team’s successful efforts to free up over $60 million in cap space earlier this year through a series of player releases, contract restructures, and pay cuts. These moves should get the Saints ready to strike. Like the Falcons, they are all set up to make some serious moves in free agency and in this near draft.
One of the team’s best offseason acquisitions has been safety Justin Reid, who brings a wealth of experience and talent to the back end of the secondary. The Saints nursed their big guns, ranging from explosive defensive end Chase Young to playmaking tight end Juwan Johnson. This signing ensures that they keep continuity on their own roster. The arrival of former wide out Brandin Cooks adds serious depth to the wide receiver room as well. This move stands to greatly improve the team’s offensive production.
The offseason is just getting started, but the Saints are already hitting all the right notes. They’re taking the time with their families to travel and explore new investment opportunities before the draft. Just as importantly, they are preparing themselves for taking on new financial commitments in the future. According to projections, salary cap liabilities will reach over $350 million by 2026. As the team exits this stage of a successful rebuild, management must continue to be just as strategic in building their roster while staying focused on long-term financial sustainability.
The Saints have recently restructured quarterback Derek Carr’s contract, locking him in for another year. This is an indicator of how serious this organization is to improve at the quarterback position. Fortifying this role has been one of the central tenets of their offseason plan.
As part of their efforts to strengthen the cornerback room, the Saints made a run at Charvarius Ward in free agency. But Ward ended up inking a three-year, $54 million deal with the Indy Colts, averaging $18 million a year. The Saints are still actively pursuing other candidates, so stay tuned as the team looks to fill this vital position.
The Saints are upgrading their offensive line. Get with them! They’ve signed former Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Dillon Radunz to a one-year, $2.25 million deal. Radunz’s versatility allows him to play multiple positions along the line, making him a valuable asset as he competes for the starting left guard position.
“Coming off a season where I started at guard, so guard would be where I feel most comfortable at, right over left. I played left side in college, played right side all last year,” – Dillon Radunz
“Comfortable there, but ultimately at the end of the day, it’s whatever gets me on the field quickest…. Obviously I think [left] is where there’s an open competition right now, so that’s what we’re going to gun for.” – Dillon Radunz
With the draft fast approaching, the Saints currently have nine total picks starting with the No. 1 overall pick. This gives them plenty of time to fill any lingering holes on their roster and pounce on future stars. Management isn’t done, including in free agency, after the draft. This method will enable other signings that can better solidify the team.
Saints management has a clear vision of the value of roster compositional flexibility. Their goal is to field a team that is both larger and more nimble at every single position.
“Anybody in a perfect world wants to have a basketball team with some tall, some short, some quick, some big. We’re flexible,” – Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis
Loomis sounded very optimistic about the recent additions as well as the players they have coming back.
“Certainly the people part of it is really, really valuable to us and we feel like we brought in an excellent player and person in Brandin,” – Mickey Loomis
The Saints still managed to walk through free agency with a vision in mind even if they didn’t have much luck landing the players they targeted.
“Free agency has a lot of conversations in a very short period of time and there’s a lot of overlap and so we felt like both of those players would’ve helped our team and we had the flexibility to handle that however we needed to,” – Mickey Loomis
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