With some cap space to use, building for the present and future is paramount.
The New Orleans Saints started slow in the legal tampering period, but by the end of day 2, the team re-signed Chase Young and Juwan Johnson, traded for Davon Godchaux, and signed Justin Reid to a three-year contract. Even after making these moves, the Saints still have space to make more signings in free agency, so here are some options for New Orleans on day 3.
CB Asante Samuel Jr.
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With Paulson Adebo leaving in free agency, the Saints have a massive weakness at cornerback. Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor are the two current starters, but Taylor is projected to move back to slot corner. This leaves the second CB spot opposite McKinstry wide open, and although the Saints could and should select a CB in the draft, relying on a rookie right away is a considerable risk. The other option is to go with a free agent, and Asante Samuel Jr. makes the most sense. Being only 25, Samuel Jr. would be a dynamic young piece to add to the Saints defense and an excellent investment for the future. With New Orleans hiring several college-level coaches for this defensive staff, investing in development and youth is an apparent goal. There is a real chance this defense looks completely different in two seasons, so being prepared for that is smart. In addition, when Brandon Staley was the head coach of the Chargers, Samuel Jr. made massive improvements and was an important piece in the defense. Asante Samuel Jr. seems like a no-brainer signing, with him being a younger option and already succeeding in Staley’s scheme.
Projected Deal: 3-year, $36 million
OG Will Hernandez
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Another massive weakness on this Saints roster is LG. Currently, they do not have a starting player for that position on the team, and although this year’s draft can be a great option, I would rather have that potential prospect develop instead of throwing them to the wolves. Going into the draft, the Saints need to find their starting LG, and Will Hernandez can be just that. Last season, before the season-ending knee injury, Hernandez was the starting RG for the Cardinals and looked really solid. He would have to switch to LG for the Saints, but he already has a prior history playing at that position. Unlike the Samuel Jr. signing, this one would not be a big investment for the future, but Hernandez can be a short-term fix to allow a drafted player to develop. Also, Hernandez should be a cheaper option compared to the other free agent guards available.
Projected Deal: 2-year, $14 million
The Saints have some cap space to use, so who would you like New Orleans to sign? Would you rather them sign 1-year deals? Or invest in the future? Let us know in the comments below!