Which free agent additions rank highest in the Sean Payton era? The New Orleans Saints have signed many contributors off the open market, but their misses (Jairus Byrd, Brandon Browner, Jason David) haven’t convinced them to change an always-aggressive approach. Seriously, the list of veterans added since 2006 is long — just off the cuff, the names that come to mind include Keenan Lewis, Curtis Lofton, Nick Fairley, Ben Grubbs, Delvin Breaux, Brodrick Bunkley, David Hawthorne, Craig Robertson, and Scott Fujtia.

While Jonathan Vilma is one of the greatest Saints in the recent era, it’s important to remember that he was acquired in a trade with the New York Jets, not as a veteran free agent.

But which five players would you pick out as the greatest free agent signings in recent Saints history — since 2006, when Payton took the job and ushered in a new era of football in New Orleans? We gave it our best shot in the ranking you’ll find below.

5. Darren Sproles

Where were you when Sproles played his first game with the Saints, in the 2011 season-opener? He inspired a furious comeback effort with a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown, and didn’t let off the gas during his 48-game stint for New Orleans. While he stuck around for just three years before getting traded to the Philadelphia Eagles (where he went on to play six seasons before joining their front office), Sproles was an electric jolt to the Saints offense as both a receiver (averaging 45 receiving yards per game) and as a runner (logging 5.7 yards per carry), despite his smaller stature.

4. Jabari Greer

Greer has a case to make as the best non-Marshon Lattimore cornerback to play for the Saints since 2006. If not for his ugly, unfortunate 2013 knee injury (which ended his career with just 66 games played for New Orleans, including the playoffs), Greer would be remembered even better as someone the Saints recruited in free agency before their 2009 title run. But the stats speak for themselves: Greer’s 68 regular season pass deflections rank second-best in Saints history.

3. Larry Warford

While he did take a step back in 2019, there’s not much to complain about with the overall steadiness of Warford’s play since he joined the Saints. He’s a solid pass protector (who, like many guards, should not be tasked with single-blocking Aaron Donald) and a great run blocker, who almost single-handedly enabled a few touchdown runs in the 2018 playoffs by pushing Carolina Panthers defensive tackles out of the back of the end zone. Warford has made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in each of his first three yars in New Orleans; let’s see if he can make it four-for-four.

2. Demario Davis

Davis deserves serious props for stepping up his game since landing in New Orleans. The Saints signed him expecting a productive linebacker and a good locker room presence; instead, he’s beaten those expectations by becoming the best three-down linebacker in the NFL, a vocal leader of the team, and a tireless advocate for justice off the field. If not for Brees himself, Davis would be the easy choice for top free agent signing in recent Saints history. Now can they please work out a contract extension to ensure he retires in black and gold?

1. Drew Brees

Brees has done it all. He won the first Super Bowl victory in Saints history. He elevated the team’s national brand from a Cleveland Browns-esque laughing stock to an annual title contender. He’s broken just about record out there, surpassing other NFL greats like Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee and maybe the best free agent signing of any team in the history of this league, much less New Orleans.

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