New Orleans Saints: 2021 free agency will now be critical for Saints

If you think the New Orleans Saints have too much going on this offseason, just wait till the 2021 free agency period is upon us.

The New Orleans Saints have limited cap space and, at the same time, not too many critical players leaving this offseason. The 2020 offseason will be important but not near as important as the following offseason.

Eli Apple, Andrus Peat, AJ Klein and a few others could leave the team, but there aren’t too many players that their exit would cause the Saints to crumble at that given position. The best player they’ll likely lose in 2020 is quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

After all, Drew Brees is already planning to return and will sign a new contract. Brees’ return gave fans all the security they needed entering the next season. The quarterback conundrum was the biggest talking point of the offseason for New Orleans.

However, Brees’ return will make the 2021 offseason an organization-defining one for New Orleans. Brees will likely retire, and then a myriad of big-time free agents will be hitting the market.

Three-time Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara, Jared Cook, Drew Brees (probably). and Larry Warford are all up for new contracts.

But, you’d be crazy if you thought it stopped there. It gets far worse with Demario Davis, Kiko Alonzo, Marcus Williams, Alex Anzalone, and Craig Robertson all also up for new deals. The Saints will be looking at some big paydays next offseason.

If the Saints are able to re-sign Davis, Kamara, and Williams, they’d still be losing quite a bit of production in Cook, Warford, Brees, and Anzalone. The combination of that talent and what those players mean to the team on both sides of the ball will be pivotal for the franchise’s future.

They have arguably four players more important than any non-Drew Brees free agent this coming offseason, making the free agency period of 2021 one to pay close attention to.