The New Orleans Saints didn't use any high draft picks to address perceived needs at edge rusher and cornerback, but they've quickly gotten busy on the free agent market.
The team announced Tuesday afternoon that they'd reached a deal with former Partiots edge rusher Anfernee Jennings and former Browns CB Martin Emerson. Both players are former third round draft selections. New Orleans also added former No. 7 overall pick Tyree Wilson in a draft day trade with the Raiders.
Jennings has been more of a run-downs outside linebacker to this point in his career. He appeared in 75 games for the patriots, rolling up 217 tackles (27 TFLs) and 7.5 sacks. He appeared in 14 games this past season and in all four playoff games during the Patriots run to Super Bowl 60. He'll join a pass-rusher group that includes Chase Young, Carl Granderson and Chris Rumph.
The Saints' plan to sign Jennings was first reported on Sunday.
Emerson, meanwhile, is a very intriguing piece as he works back from a torn Achilles injury that cost him his 2025 season. Prior to that the former Mississippi State Bulldog had taken over the Browns starting outside corner slot across from Denzel Ward and turned in a 2024 season in which he started 15 games with 80 total tackles and 5 passes defenses. The year prior he saw action in all 17 games with 59 tackles, 14 passes defensed and 4 interceptions.
A majority of Emerson's work has been as an outside corner, but it remains to be seen whether he'll work in as a potential slot replacement with Alontae Taylor now in Tennessee. The Saints did not draft or sign a player who is the obvious choice in that role, though one of Jonas Sanker or Julian Blackmon is a likely candidate. The Saints also drafted Lorenzo Styles Jr. in the 5th round, and they could potentially look to one of Kool-Aid McKinstry or Quincy Riley to shift inside should they see Emerson as the best option on the outside.
