5 New Orleans Saints who are next in line for an extension

3. David Onyemata

David Onyemata will be 30 years old when he hits the free agent market next offseason but he’s continued to play at a high level for the Saints. A fourth-round pick in 2016, Onyemata has worked his way up from a rotational piece to a starter.

In 2019, the fourth year of his career, Onyemata had worked his way into the starting lineup and that’s where he’s been ever since. He finished the 2021 season with an 81.9 PFF grade despite missing the first six games due to suspension. When he returned to the lineup, it was obvious that he made the defensive line better.

If the Saints are smart, they’d extend Onyemata before the season begins and not risk losing him because he’s become a big part of this d-line.

2. C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Fan-favorite C.J. Gardner-Johnson is entering the final year of his rookie deal but hopefully, the Saints don’t let it stay that way. The former fourth-round pick out of Florida has become a key piece in the team’s secondary.

The Saints have made it a point to keep their secondary in tip-top shape and that was evidenced by this offseason when they lost Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins. They replaced those guys with Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye, keeping the unit strong.

It’d be hard seeing Gardner-Johnson in another uniform and hopefully, the team doesn’t let him hit free agency. Time to extend the fan favorite.