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How can the New Orleans Saints improve in 2020? The answer to that question starts with shoring up the weaknesses of last year’s roster, and accounting for the areas thinnest on the depth chart. Fortunately, the Seattle Seahawks offer some pending free agents who might interest the Saints. Here’s the full list:
- CB Akeem King
- CB Neiko Thorpe
- CB Kalan Reed
- CB Jeremy Boykins (ERFA)
- DE Jadeveon Clowney
- DE Ezekiel Ansah
- DE Quinton Jefferson
- DE Branden Jackson
- DT Al Woods
- DT Jarran Reed
- DT Bryan Mone (ERFA)
- FS Ryan Neal (ERFA)
- LB Mychal Kendricks
- LB Dekoda Watson
- LB Emmanuel Ellerbe (ERFA)
- OC Joey Hunt
- OG Mike Iupati
- OG Jordan Roos (ERFA)
- OT Germain Ifedi
- OT George Fant
- OT Jordan Simmons (ERFA)
- QB Geno Smith
- RB Marshawn Lynch
- RB Robert Turbin
- RB C.J. Prosise
- TE Luke Willson
- TE Jacob Hollister (RFA)
- TE Tyrone Swoopes (ERFA)
- WR Josh Gordon
- WR Jaron Brown
- WR David Moore (RFA)
- WR Malik Turner (ERFA)
The Saints have had interest in Ansah before, but he was a shell of his former self in 2019. He produced just 2.5 sacks and 8 quarterback hits in 11 games, with injuries having taken a toll on his body. A better target may be Reed — the interior lineman created 13 total pressures in just 10 games, having lost part of the year to an early-season suspension. If he’s cleaned up his act, he could be a nice replacement for Saints free agent David Onyemata.
While he is a restricted free agent, meaning the Seahawks can match any contract offers he receives, Hollister is an intriguing prospect at tight end. He created a lot of yards after the catch and handled a variety of blocking assignments for the Seahawks, and he could be a nice third-string addition for the Saints behind Jared Cook and Josh Hill (each of whom will become free agents in the not-too-distant future). The Seahawks just signed first-team Saints slayer Greg Olsen, so they may be open to letting Hollister walk away if the money isn’t to their liking.
And the Seahawks also have a number of cornerbacks hitting the market; that could be an area where we see some movement, considering how few corners the Saints have under contract (just three: Marshon Lattimore, Janoris Jenkins, and Patrick Robinson). Of the group, King saw the most playing-time on defense (267 snaps), while he and Thorpe both played frequently on special teams for Seattle. The Saints will be looking for backups, so they should both be on New Orleans’ radar.
Also: wouldn’t Geno Smith make some sense as a low-cost backup who can play from the pocket, much like Teddy Bridgewater has done? He doesn’t offer Bridgewater’s playmaking ability or accuracy, but the Saints have taken worse passers into training camp in the past.
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