We are going to attempt to figure out our four favorite free agent fits for the New Orleans Saints heading into the 2020 offseason. Some key holes on the offense are quite glaring (like guard and receiver), while other areas on the defense could use a shot in the arm (such as defensive end). Here are four options that we’d like to see the Saints target as home-run hits, which would help them win free agency.

Amari Cooper, wide receiver

Cooper’s value improved since his move to the Dallas Cowboys from the Oakland Raiders in 2018. In each of the last two seasons the wideout has averaged over 1,000 yards receiving, scoring 15 touchdowns during that time. Cooper is due for a payday, and many predict he will have earned a lucrative multi-year deal. However, should he get paid in the upper echelons of his position, or even be the highest-paid, as some have suggested?

Instead, Cooper could take a one-year deal with the Saints with a higher average annual value and then seek his multi-year deal the following season. Cooper would have the opportunity to play opposite of Michael Thomas in a much more explosive offense. Those factors alone could see his production skyrocket, which could then be used to justify a massive payday in 2021.

Joe Thuney, guard

A former third-round pick, Thuney has spent the last four seasons protecting quarterback Tom Brady with the New England Patriots. Thuney quickly became one of the best offensive guards in the league, and now he is set to test free agency this offseason.

Pro Football Focus has ranked Thuney in the top-10 at his position in each of the last three years, and should command top-tier money. It would likely take a four-year deal with at least $10-million per year to bring him into the fold. However, if Drew Brees continues to return season after season, the offensive line will have to be the best unit on the field in order to keep the aging quarterback upright. Incumbent left guard Andrus Peat is on his way out, and Thuney would be a huge upgrade.

Marcus Mariota, quarterback

Current backup Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater could feasibly leave the team in free agency this offseason, especially if he fields starting job offers and money. Even if Taysom Hill remains with the team should Bridgewater leave, another backup quarterback would be necessary if Sean Payton wants to continue using Hill in his current capacity as a receiver, runner, and blocker.

Enter Mariota. Mariota is on the outs with the Tennessee Titans, as Ryan Tannehill has a stranglehold on the starting job. We have already highlighted the similarities between Mariota and Bridgewater, and why he could be a great fit with New Orleans. Mariota could be a fantastic long-term option at the position, especially considering his pedigree. Playing with a new coordinator every year he’s been in the NFL did a lot to stunt his development.

Yannick Ngakoue, defensive end

Ngakoue has all but made it known that he will not be returning to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020 according to his Twitter. The 2017 Pro Bowler recorded eight sacks in 2019, despite playing in a bad situation. The addition he would make the Saints’ defensive line one of the most lethal and feared in the league.

However, he will come with a pretty large price tag. His deal would likely exceed $15 million a year, which would make him the highest paid lineman on the defense. That could cause some issues, considering Cameron Jordan recently inked a team-friendly long-term deal worth $14.9 million per year. Imagine the possibilities, though, with a line made up of Jordan, Ngakoue, and a healthy Sheldon Rankins and Marcus Davenport. That just might be worth the price.

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