1 free agent the Saints should target from every other team in the NFL
They say that you miss all of the shots you don’t take, which has been a popular philosophy for the New Orleans Saints in free agency. It’s sometimes tough for them to land their top targets due to the complicated salary cap gymnastics required to fit everyone on their books — but that hasn’t stopped them from aggressively pursuing players who they believe can make their team better.
And that should continue to be the case in 2023. It’s early, and many of these players will sign extensions with their teams in the weeks ahead. But we have an idea of the areas the Saints must upgrade to field a competitive roster in the fall.
Given the list of free agents currently expected to be available, here is one player from each of the other 31 teams around the league who New Orleans should at least make a run at once they’ve reached salary cap compliance (with our division previews and list of alternative free agent targets collected at the bottom):
Arizona Cardinals CB Byron Murphy
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Falcons CB Isaiah Oliver
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Baltimore Ravens WR Demarcus Robinson
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Bills RB Devin Singletary
AP Photo/Derick Hingle
Carolina Panthers RB D'Onta Foreman
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears RB David Montgomery
Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Bengals S Vonn Bell
Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns QB Jacoby Brissett
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys RB Tony Pollard
Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Broncos DT Dre'Mont Jones
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Lions RB Jamaal Williams
David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers WR Allen Lazard
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Texans DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Indianapolis Colts WR Parris Campbell
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Chiefs DT Khalen Saunders
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Chargers CB Bryce Callahan
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Rams DT A'Shawn Robinson
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Miami Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings DT Dalvin Tomlinson
Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
New England Patriots RB Damien Harris
Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants WR Darius Slayton
Dustin Satloff/Getty Images
New York Jets DT Sheldon Rankins
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Eagles DT Javon Hargrave
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers DT Larry Ogunjobi
Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Seattle Seahawks DT Poona Ford
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers DE Anthony Nelson
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tennessee Titans S Joshua Kalu
Harry How/Getty Images
Washington Commanders DT Daron Payne
Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Division previews with alternative free agent targets
AFC East: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets free agents
NFC North: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings free agents
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks free agents
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers free agents
