Two New Orleans Saints Players Identified Among Top NFL Free Agents
As the NFL free agency approaches, the New Orleans Saints are diligently working to become salary cap compliant for the upcoming year, primarily through restructuring existing contracts rather than outright releases of players. Notably, contracts for QB Derek Carr, C Erik McCoy, G Cesar Ruiz, and DT Nathan Shepherd have already been restructured, resulting in a substantial reduction of over $40 million from the team’s initial cap overage of $80 million. Additional moves of a similar nature are anticipated, minimizing the need for significant player cuts.
While the Saints may not actively contribute to the pool of upcoming free agents, there are expectations that some of their unrestricted free agents might seek opportunities with other teams. Greg Rosenthal, a writer for NFL.com and co-host of Around the NFL, has compiled a list of the top 101 free agent targets for NFL teams, featuring two New Orleans players toward the lower end of the rankings.
94 – Jameis Winston, QB
Winston, a former first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, is ranked 94th among the free agents listed by Rosenthal. Despite facing injury setbacks during his tenure with the Saints, Winston’s potential as a starting quarterback is acknowledged. The uncertainty lies in whether the Saints, under coach Dennis Allen, are comfortable with Winston or considering other options, such as the less experienced Jake Haener, behind starting QB Derek Carr.
101 – Michael Thomas, WR
Surprisingly, Thomas, an elite wide receiver in franchise history, is ranked 101st, with Rosenthal placing 10 other wideouts ahead of him. Despite missing a significant number of games due to injuries, Thomas remains a potent weapon when on the field. However, with emerging talents like Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed and potential discord with the organization, the Saints are expected to part ways with Thomas, marking a potentially challenging separation.
It is noteworthy that Rosenthal omitted some notable New Orleans free agents, including Andrus Peat, Isaac Yiadom, Malcolm Roach, and Zack Baun, who could attract attention in the open market. These players, having made significant contributions last season, might still be considered for retention by the Saints.
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