Sean Payton was active poaching coaches to his new Broncos staff this offseason, but it wasn't until the past few days that he snagged free agent from his former team.
That's the case with wide receiver Marquez Callaway, according to a report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The former UDFA that joined the Saints under Payton's watch in 2020, will join his former coach out in Denver. He'll be able to meet up with fellow UDFA Tony Jones Jr., whom the Broncos signed earlier this week. Both will join former Saints WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey, who signed with Payton's Broncos earlier this month.
It'll be a welcome change of scenery for both Jones and Callaway, both of whom appeared to have been phased out under the new offensive staff, led by Pete Carmichael. Jones was waived by the Saints in October and finished out the season with the Seahawks.
Callaway, a former Tennessee Vol, had a significant role in his second season, appearing in all 17 games and catching 46 passes for 698 yards and 6 TDs with a depleted receiving group. He appeared in 14 games during the 2022 season but caught just 16 passes on 32 targets. He also snagged a one-handed touchdown that appeared destined to be intercepted during a Week 3 loss to the Panthers.
The WRs and RB join a team with familiar faces littering its coaching staff, including Joe Lombardi, Declan Doyle and Zach Strief.
The Saints have yet to make any significant additions in the WR room this offseason, but they have agreed to a reworked contract to bring Michael Thomas back on a 1-year, incentive-laden deal. The Saints will also enter the year with high expectations for a pair of second-year pass-catchers in Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, both of whom stood out as rookies in a Saints offense that was led by journeyman Andy Dalton for the final 14 games.
Other players departing in free agency include DT David Onyemata (Falcons); LB Kaden Elliss (Falcons); DT Shy Tuttle (Panthers); QB Andy Dalton (Panthers); DE Marcus Davenport (Vikings); WR Deonte Harty (Bills); and S Justin Evans (Eagles).
The Saints' biggest splash on the market was to change things up at quarterback, bringing in former Raiders QB Derek Carr on a 4-year, $150 million deal.
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