For the first time since Drew Brees lined up under center, the New Orleans Saints have legitimate hope for the future. Rookie Tyler Shough looks like a future franchise quarterback, which is the most important part of any rebuild. Now, it’s time for the Saints to build a competent roster around him, and that starts by making the right choices with their own free agents.
Top 5 New Orleans Saints Free Agents, Ranked
As of this posting, New Orleans is projected to be $15.4 million over the 2026 salary cap. While this sounds bad, it’s actually better than where New Orleans normally is at this point in the year. General Manager Mickey Loomis excels at creating cap space, and he’ll create some spending money before the league year begins.
Main Photo: Steve Roberts – Imagn Images
5. Taysom Hill
Taysom Hill making this list says a lot more about the rest of the Saints free agents than it does Hill himself. The do-everything Swiss Army knife is a fan favorite and one of the few remaining holdovers from the Drew Brees Era. However, time comes for us all, and it’s clear that Hill’s tank is pretty much empty.
Currently playing in his age-35 season, Hill has looked like one of the least athletic and most underwhelming players in the league anytime he has the ball in his hands. He’s averaging just 2.2 yards per carry as a runner and has caught just eight passes for 59 yards. Chances are, this is the end of the road for one of the more unique players in recent NFL history.
4. Cameron Jordan
Cameron Jordan appeared to be at the end of the road in 2024, but the eight-time Pro Bowler’s resurgent 2025 proved he can still be a productive NFL player. Starting and appearing in every game so far, the pass rusher has recorded 9.5 sacks, 43 tackles, 13 tackles-for-loss, and a 74.5 PFF grade, the 27th-best mark out of 115 eligible players.
Jordan is still an above-average pass rusher, and players with 10-sack potential normally break the bank in free agency. However, he’s entering his age-37 season next year, and nobody will hand out a long-term deal for someone that close to 40. Seeing as he spent his entire career with the Saints, it’s safe to assume the team will re-sign the impending free agent to a one- or two-year deal.
3. Julian Blackmon
Julian Blackmon is perhaps the most overlooked of the Saints free agents, and it’s easy to see why. After establishing himself as an above-average starter during his five years with the Indianapolis Colts, Blackmon bet on himself and signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the New Orleans Saints. Unfortunately, injuries prevented him from resetting his market, as he suffered a season-ending torn labrum after just one game.
Blackmon is a good player when healthy, and his season-ending injury makes him the perfect target for another one-year, incentive-laden deal. New Orleans needs more depth in the secondary, and this pairing could be an ideal short-term match.
2. Demario Davis
Demario Davis simply refuses to age. Despite being well on the wrong side of 30, the linebacker has recorded 137 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles, and an 80.4 PFF grade through the first 16 games of the season. He’s showing no signs of slowing down and recently said he plans on returning for another season.
Just like with Jordan, Demario Davis is probably too old to earn a long-term commitment from any of the other 31 organizations. This means that the Saints will likely be able to re-sign him and still have enough money left over to sign their most important free agent.
1. Alontae Taylor
Alontae Taylor won’t make the Saints forget about prime Marshon Lattimore anytime soon, but his combination of age, play level, and positional importance makes him the team’s most important free agent. Stepping up as the team’s de facto CB1, Taylor has established himself as a good, albeit not great, cornerback. Through 16 games, he’s recorded two interceptions, 11 passes defended, two sacks, 79 tackles, and a respectable 63.8 PFF grade.
The Saints should try to retain Taylor, but they shouldn’t move heaven and earth for him. There’s a chance he’s the top cornerback on the market when the league year begins and could receive franchise-altering money. Taylor is good, but he’s not good enough to justify that type of investment. However, assuming his asking price isn’t ridiculous, New Orleans should try to keep him in town.
