How do NFL experts grade the New Orleans Saints after two weeks of free agency? We put together a team report card after checking in on their individual grades. It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the Saints after signing players like Chase Young and Willie Gay while losing veteran free agents — guys like Jameis Winston, Malcolm Roach, and Zack Baun, among others.
And on the whole, those covering the league aren’t too impressed by the Saints’ efforts. For an underachieving team that struggled to win nine games last year, they haven’t done enough to earn more confidence going into 2024:
USA Today’s Nate Davis was unimpressed by the Saints’ moves, though he noted a more conservative approach to free agency was probably necessary:
Aside from a few minor pickups (LB Willie Gay, WR Cedrick Wilson Jr., QB2 Nathan Peterman) before landing DE Chase Young on a one-year, $13 million offer this week, they’ve pretty much sat on the sideline while restructuring contracts throughout the roster as they do yearly. A more measured approach was going to be needed here eventually.
Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger took a brighter view of the Saints’ additions and losses, crediting them for finding good value on the free agent market while getting younger at key positions:
With a lot of mid-tier and/or specific role linebackers doing well so far through the first day and a half of free agency, this is a good value for Gay. New Orleans gets a solid third linebacker to pair with Demario Davis and Pete Werner.
CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell wasn’t impressed by the Saints’ salary cap maneuvering, viewing them as a team stuck in a rut without making meaningful changes:
The Saints’ burning desire to continue restructuring almost every contract on their books to chase NFC South contention is severely limiting their ability to do anything in free agency besides re-sign some of their own players. New Orleans has to change this strategy soon, otherwise they will continue to be doomed to competing for division titles and losing in the first round of the postseason. Wilson provides some wide receiver depth after the Saints released Michael Thomas.
Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson was also critical of the Saints’ cap management and a lack of substantial moves:
Like the Bills, the Saints’ poor salary-cap management put them in a place where they’ve had to essentially sit out the free agent market. There’s little to grade here, but Gay was an effective linebacker for the Chiefs.
Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer believes the Saints are falling behind in the NFC South arms race:
The Saints weren’t likely to do much with their cap situation, making Willie Gay Jr. their only notable pickup before taking a shot on Young. This doesn’t look good at all given how active the Falcons, Buccaneers, and Panthers all were in the division.
List Wire’s Barry Werner was mostly unimpressed, though he feels Willie Gay can add some much-needed energy to the locker room:
Jameis Winston exits for Cleveland. Nathan Peterman surfaces. Maybe he is buddies with Derek Carr. They were together with the Raiders. Willie Gay brings a championship-winning resume from KC.
The Associated Press’ Rob Maddi dinged the Saints for losing so many players to other teams, but applauded their budget-conscious spending:
Signed linebacker Willie Gay Jr. Extended safety Tyrann Mathieu. Lost Winston and LB Zack Baun and defensive lineman Malcolm Roach.
Add all these results up and you get a 1.714 grade point average, which isn’t a report card to be proud of. On the other other hand, most of these outlets ran their team free agency grades before the Saints signed Chase Young, which both addressed a major position of need without presenting great salary cap challenges, and you’d have to think that would change the outlook for some of these writers. New Orleans still has ample salary cap space to work with in 2024, but with so few high-end free agents remaining it might be in their best interest to spend with discretion. A couple of lean years to keep the core together, compete in a weak division, and start over fresh could be a viable plan.