Kellen Moore knows NFL teams shoot for the same goal during free agency. With the NFL draft largely unpredictable, the idea is to do enough so that when the picks come flying in that April, reaching to fill a major need isn’t a necessity.
There are exceptions — some teams avoid the frenzy altogether — but every organization wants to maintain flexibility ahead of the draft.
“I feel like we’re in a healthy spot in that case,” Moore said.
The Saints’ moves in free agency explain why. In committing more than $183 million worth of contracts — and guaranteeing more than $116 million, according to Over The Cap — to 11 players, New Orleans took steps to shore up its struggling running game and replace a key leader after linebacker Demario Davis bolted for the New York Jets.
As a result, the Saints appear to have the flexibility that they wanted. Signing running back Travis Etienne, for instance, makes it less of a blow if — or when — Notre Dame’s Jermemiyah Love is drafted before New Orleans is on the clock at No. 8. Replacing Davis with Kaden Elliss also lessens the need for drafting an off-ball linebacker, even though this is viewed as an extremely strong class for that position.
Not every spot, of course, was filled.
The Saints could really use another wide receiver to give quarterback Tyler Shough more weapons, even as the team negotiates a long-term deal with Chris Olave. The defense is missing a starting nickel cornerback following Alontae Taylor's signing with the Tennessee Titans. The Saints have long wanted to get younger at edge rusher, while adding further help in the trenches — on both sides of the ball — remains a goal.
But even with those needs, the Saints arguably aren’t in a spot where they have to get desperate.
Look at cornerback. On the surface, drafting safety Caleb Downs or cornerback Mansoor Delane eighth overall would make sense to replace Taylor. Downs is a versatile piece that can play multiple spots, while picking Delane would allow the Saints to kick someone like Quincy Riley inside. That said, teams can very well find nickel cornerbacks later in the draft. That alleviates some of the pressure New Orleans might otherwise face in Round 1.
The same can be said about wide receiver, as well. There’s a good chance that at least one of Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon will still be available when the Saints are set to pick. If the Saints, though, prefer to prioritize another position first, they can likely get away with waiting. Chris Bell, Ted Hurst and Malachi Fields are all Day 2 wideouts that could be a good consolation prize for a team in need of an offensive spark.
Venturing past the third round to find a wideout could be a risk, but if the Saints don’t noticeably improve their wide receiving room in the draft, that’s partly why the Saints committed to overhauling their rushing attack. The Saints not only made Etienne the ninth-highest paid player at his position, but also signing guard David Edwards to a notable four-year, $61 million contract ensures that Etienne should have enough room to run upfront.
In a lot of ways, a seven-round draft gives teams a healthy amount of leeway regardless of free agency. But make no mistake, this year is much different for the Saints than 2024 — a draft that screamed “tackle-or-bust” in the first round. The Saints ended up drafting tackle Taliese Fuaga, to the surprise of no one.
The Saints are also in a place where they can perhaps afford to swing on a prospect. Miami defensive end Rueben Bain is a polarizing pass rusher because of his 30 ⅞-inch arm length and undersized frame, but his speed and bend could be the missing piece for a New Orleans defense that took a noticeable leap last season.
“If you’re slightly off a prototype, you’ve got to be a really productive player,” Moore said. “Have the ability to make plays and have done it over an extended period of time to kind of showcase that. There’s a lot of conversations to be had about that.”
Bain certainly doesn’t fit the Saints’ historical prototype, which leans toward long, athletic edge rushers. But his track record at Miami — 20 ½ sacks in three years — indicates he satisfies Moore’s requirement of production. And given that New Orleans has whiffed on some of their drafted pass rushers over the last five years, and considering last year’s scheme change, maybe Bain is worth the exception if he’s still available.
At the very least, the Saints have options.