Re-ranking Saints needs after big free agency splash

In the above episode we also break down the latest Saints news, forecast the outlook for Cam Jordan and Alvin Kamara and chat 1-on-1 with new Saints RB Travis Etienne. Can't see the player above? Click here.

POSITIONS OF NEED (post-free agency)

First, let's go ahead and break down the positions that have been addressed with signings:

Incoming

- RB: Travis Etienne; Ty Chandler
- OL: David Edwards; Dillon Radunz*
- TE: Noah Fant
- LB: Kaden Elliss
- S: Julian Blackmon*
- DT: John Ridgeway*
- P: Ryan Wright
* = re-signed

Outgoing

- LB Demario Davis (Jets)
- CB Alontae Taylor (Titans)
- C Luke Fortner (Panthers)

Notable FAs

- DE Cam Jordan
- QB Taysom Hill

The Saints have been busy. Two of the biggest needs were RB and LG, and those were addressed with top-of-the market names. Demario Davis' departure created a need at linebacker, and that was addressed in a major way on Day 2 with a familiar name in Kaden Elliss. The Saints could probably stop here and feel like the rest of the needs can be addressed in the draft, but we'll go through the list anyway, from low (5) to high (1).

5. Backup center

Why: My philosophy is typically that I don't consider depth positions as a "need." Every team wants quality depth, but what they NEED are quality starters. In most cases once you have those, you've solved the critical issues that you have to stretch for and can now address the rest in your own time (AKA after the draft). This is one of the few cases where I feel differently. Erik McCoy is an excellent football player, but there's a reason we hear the cliche "the best ability is availability). We've now had two consecutive seasons where McCoy was limited to 7 games due to injuries, including a season-ending injury to the same arm. The team will approach the 2026 season hopeful that he can buck that trend, but it would be foolish to not prepare for a scenario where he again misses significant time. This doesn't have to be a household name, but it should be a player with some legitimate experience. Think Will Clapp last year, or later on Luke Fortner after Clapp's injury. Where would the Saints have been midseason if they hadn't swung that trade for Fortner?

This isn't something that necessarily has to happen right away, but I also don't think it's something that can be cleanly addressed in the draft. I don't want to fall into a scenario where I have to throw a rookie center in front of my second-year QB.

4. Wide receiver

Why: I know there will be a lot of folks who put this position higher, but I think the room has a reasonable mix to be moving forward with. Here's the WR roster:

- Chris Olave
- Devaughn Vele
- Ja'Lynn Polk
- Mason Tipton
- Trey Palmer
- Damien Alford
- Bub Means
- Ronnie Bell
- Samori Toure
- Elijah Cooks

No, that list isn't exactly overflowing with stars, but it's also not as barren as it's being made out to be. I have a legit star in Olave (whom I expect to be paid like one by the end of the offseason), a big slot-type player in Vele who really flashed late in the year and upside players in Polk (a former 2nd-round pick) and Palmer, neither of whom saw the field last year. I'd love to add at least one veteran name who can help lead the group, and Day 2 of the draft feels like an ideal place to mine what looks to be a deep WR class. I wouldn't be against adding a top-end name like Carnell Tate of Makai Lemon at No. 8, but only if my board falls that way. I'm not reaching to fill a need before I even find out how Tyler Shough looks with a majority of this group in extended action.

3. Edge

Why: The Saints technically have "starters" on the edge with Chase Young and Carl Granderson, but Brandon Staley loves a rotation and I think you need at least three players of that caliber to be in good shape. The biggest question is whether the Saints bring Cam Jordan back, but either way I think there's a signing that has to be made. I'd also endorse investing a high draft pick at the position, particularly if a guy like Arvell Reese or David Bailey takes a draft-day tumble, but I'm definitely still looking to build out this position on the free agent market.

2. Interior defensive line

Why: This is a weird one, because while I see it as a big need, I don't necessarily see it as a huge free agency need. I still expect the Saints to bring back a player like Jonathan Bullard -- or someone in that similar range -- but there's no rush to do that. The Saints have Bryan Bresee going into Year 4 and have to decide whether to pick up his 5th year. My guess is no because the price tag doesn't really make sense even if they were to re-sign him. They also have a third-rounder from last season in Vernon Broughton returning, and the team is high on what he can provide after missing the final 15 weeks due to injury. I see this as mostly a draft and depth play, but it's still a big one. If a player like Caleb Banks falls to 42 due to his combine injury, I'd have a hard time saying no if I'm the Saints.

1. Nickel DB/star

Why: Like I noted above, when I'm talking about needs, I'm typically talking about starters or at least a player getting starter-level reps. The nickel spot (called star in Staley's defense) is the only position where I legitimately don't know who to pencil in right now. It's possible that the Saints view someone like Jonas Sanker or Julian Blackmon as the prime candidate to fill that spot, but Sanker has never done it at the NFL level and Blackmon's injury history makes him tough to bet on. If nothing else I have to bring in depth at both safety and corner, and I'd like at least one of the players brought in to have significant experience as a nickel DB. It can be a camp competition, but I need the bodies for a competition.