These two players could be available to New Orleans for a great deal.
With the start of free agency next week, the New Orleans Saints have a great opportunity to find some cheap deals to improve this roster. The team should be more active than last year, but once again, many, if not all, will be 1-year deals. Staying with this free-agent strategy will help the Saints improve the cap. Also, New Orleans can receive compensatory picks if the signed free agents leave after one year to go to other teams. This strategy is already working out for the team, with Chase Young set to leave and get a larger contract. The goal will be to do something similar in free agency this year, so let’s take a look some options the team could go with.
OL – Patrick Mekari
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The offensive line needs to be improved this offseason, but the Saints must do that with cheap contracts and draft selections. Going into the NFL Draft with at least one starting potential LG would be great. It would take some pressure off the Saints to use a premium pick on a guard and allow whoever they draft to sit back and learn for a year. Patrick Mekari, who played for the Baltimore Ravens last season, would be a perfect option to fill that LG spot. Mekari can play both at tackle and guard spots, will be 28 by the start of the season, has no extensive injury history, and experience in different schemes. He would be a great short-term option for the Saints, but what could the contract look like? If New Orleans wants to go with a one-year contract, around $7 million should be the target number for the team. Mekari may want more security, so a two or three-year deal could be on the table.
OLB – Josh Uche
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This should be a more familiar name. Josh Uche has been a target for the Saints recently, and a trade almost happened two years ago at the deadline. That was during the last coaching regime under Dennis Allen, but there could still be fans of his in the building, and his fit in Staley’s defense is great. Last season, Uche was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, but never found a role in the defense. With the Saints, this would be very different. In Staley’s defense, Uche can be the perfect OLB rusher off the edge that can wreak havoc on passing downs. He also has succeeded in 4-3 sets as a pure edge rusher, but run defense is a worry. With him never fitting in a role on the Chiefs, Uche’s value may be at its lowest, so the Saints could offer him a cheap contract of around $4 million in free agency. Good teams buy low on players and can improve their value, and with Staley’s defense, Josh Uche could be the perfect option.