A small crowd of New Orleans Saints players are going to test the market in free agency this March, though few of them are starters or even critical backups. Still, it’s a group featuring many players the team would like to have back.
Some situations are more complicated than others. Backup quarterback Jameis Winston, for instance, reworked his contract so the Saints must choose to extend him or release him, essentially making it a voided deal (even if he is technically under contract through 2024). That’s also the case with fan-favorite wide receiver Michael Thomas.
On top of that, there are different types of free agents. Exclusive rights free agents have the option to either play for their current team at a minimum salary or sit out the 2024 season, so guys like Rashid Shaheed won’t be going anywhere. Restricted free agents could be tendered at a higher salary and possibly bring back compensation if signed elsewhere, but that’s rare to see. The vast majority of free agents will enjoy unrestricted status and have the freedom to field offers from any team.
With that said, here’s the list of Saints players who might be leaving for greener pastures in a few months: