Stay Or Go: Saints Top Free Agents Of 2024

Offseason attrition is a given in the NFL. For the New Orleans Saints, 2024 is no exception. However, their list of free agents this year is a fairly predictable list to consider. Below are the Saints’ top free agents that could head elsewhere this offseason. For each, an opinion on whether they should stay or go is listed along with a prediction for what will actually happen. The list begins with a quarterback who took part in making headline in the team’s Week 18 win over the Atlanta Falcons. SAINTS TOP FREE AGENTS OF 2024

QB JAMEIS WINSTON Should: Stay

Prediction: Go

The fact of the matter is that ever since Winston returned for the 2024 season the expectation was that it would be his final year in New Orleans. Now that he has taken part in the victory formation seen around the world, many are treating it like a new realization that he will not be back. Or are painting his unlikely return to be connected to the late touchdown the team elected to go for with running back Jamal Williams.

The truth is, the opposite should be true. Instead of casting Winston out with this truthfully harmless decision hanging over the franchise as the league’s top talking point, a greater show of unity and leadership would be to move past all of the recent chatter and arrive at an agreement to keep Winston in the Big Easy for another year.

This was an approach also discussed by former Oakland Raiders CEO Amy Trask in her recent comments on Winston and head coach Dennis Allen. The issue is that, plainly put, unity and leadership were not necessarily the strongest qualities the Saints displayed in 2023. While there looks to be a concerted effort to fix that, there are realities in which those efforts are successful and realities wherein they are not. This decision would be a winning endeavor, whose undertaking may fall short considering the team’s initial perceived approach.

WR MICHAEL THOMAS Should: Go

Prediction: Go

Unlike all of the chatter around cornerback Marshon Lattimore, the Saints concerns around their two-time All-Pro feel more clear and with direction. For four consecutive seasons, Thomas has either not been able to make it on to the field or has not been able to finish the season on the field. That is a tough pill to swallow not just for the Saints who had invested a pretty penny in the wideout, but certainly for Thomas himself.

While he has struggled to stay on the field, Thomas cannot be dismissed for lack of effort. Each time he has been met by a hurdle, he has found a way to climb it and return to action. The issue now is that he will be 31 years old before the 2024 season starts. This team desperately needs to get younger and with a core of young playmakers at the position, the writing may already be on the wall for Thomas.

Should: Stay Prediction: Stay This one is easy. Shaheed is a exclusive rights free agent. Meaning that he has no ability to negotiate with other teams and the Saints simply have to place the minimum tender on the wideout to keep him for 2024.

However, it would make sense for New Orleans to get ahead of Shaheed’s deal and perhaps sign him to a multi-year deal at least for the next two years. This is what the Saints did with both defensive end Carl Granderson and tight end Juwan Johnson when their exclusive rights free agent deals expired. Granderson has since received a larger extension, and Johnson looks to be in line for the same.

LB ZACK BAUN Should: Stay

Prediction: Go

Allen stated unequivocally that the team will not change their strategy—rather, they would even strengthen it—when Saints News Network questioned him about how Baun’s late-game performance might affect their standard prototype at pass rusher. Some players in the big-bodied defensive end mould have had success: Trey Hendrickson, though he reached his full potential with a different team; Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson are two examples. The defence may undoubtedly benefit from having a smaller, faster edge rusher, or what Allen referred to as a “change-up”.

While Baun himself may not be back to be that guy in 2024, his influence could still lead to forwarding the attack. Having Baun back would be beneficial as he is already familiar with the system. But it seems likely he will get a more consistent opportunity to play to his strengths elsewhere. Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, for instance, believe strongly in his style within their system.

OL ANDRUS PEAT Should: Go

Prediction: Go

This is another player whose contract being reworked ahead the 2023 season seemed to signal his eventual departure. However things got a bit more complicated for New Orleans when first-round left tackle Trevor Penning was benched earlier in the season and never truly found his way back to the field for the remainder of the year. In his stead and along with some additional shuffling on the line, Peat bounced outside to his collegiate position at left tackle. In doing so, he played well.

While he surrendered 10 pressures in his first game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the position, he would go on to give up just 17 combined over his next ten games. Additionally he gave up just a pair of sacks at left tackle as well. The tricky part will now be whether or not the Saints would be willing to bring him back on a left tackle deal, which is considerably more expensive than an interior lineman’s deal. His performance on the outside likely prices him out of New Orleans, who should re-invest in Penning before it is too late.

Yiadom was a revelation at outside corner for the Saints while Lattimore was out with an ankle injury to end the season. He and fellow cornerback Paulson Adebo tied for No. 5 in the NFL with 11 pass breakups and Yiadom lead the league in forced incompletion percentage (33%) among all corners that played at least 50 coverage snaps.

Those are great numbers, especially for a guy that was originally brought in to help play a core special teams role. He has gone from being an outstanding cover player the kicking game to a fantastic cover corner. Yiadom has a great relationship with defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who actually scouted him at the 2018 Senior Bowl. Their connection combined with his success and the frankly imprudent potential for a Lattimore departure provides him ample opportunity to stick around.

DL MALCOLM ROACH Should: Stay

Prediction: Stay

Roach earned the NFL’s best run stop percentage (17.4%) among all defenders, regardless of position, with more than 10 run defence snaps, according Pro Football Focus. It appears that losing Roach midway through the season affected a squad that was ranked No. 22 against the run.

The gifted defensive tackle briefly courted the market during the previous offseason before heading back to New Orleans. Given the circumstances, particularly following a season-ending injury, it is possible that he will not be able to find a different landing point this season as he did the previous one. That ought to provide the Saints the chance to sign him once more, possibly even for a brief contract if he accepts it.

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