3 Saints who must perform in 2022 ahead of contract decisions

The New Orleans Saints have 26 players slated to be unrestricted free agents in 2023. These three are players who need to perform well if they want to be in the Saints’ future plans. 

This offseason saw the New Orleans Saints lose two of their biggest players from recent years with Marcus Williams heading to Baltimore and Terron Armstead signing with the Dolphins. Next year, a few of the big names entering the free-agent market consist of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Deonte Harty, and David Onyemata.

Another way of looking at the pending free agents is to take a look at the players who need to show up this year if they want to remain in New Orleans’ future plans.

All stats courtesy of NFL.com

3. Bradley Roby

Around this time last year, the Saints traded for Bradley Roby, sending a third-round pick to the Texans in exchange for the cornerback. The plan was for Roby to be the starter opposite Marshon Lattimore but Paulson Adebo played so well as a rookie that Roby didn’t end up seeing the field as much as the fans expected.

It was a disappointing result for New Orleans considering they surrendered a third-round pick to land Roby but it could have been worse. Adebo playing well is better for the team in the long term.

Roby was extended this offseason for one more year to save cap space but he’ll be a free agent this time next year and has a lot to prove during the 2022 season. If he wants to remain in the Saints’ future, he needs to show them that he’s worth keeping around.