The New Orleans Saints' focus is shifting towards free agency as they are entering the offseason. They have some major decisions on whether or not to bring back some key players from last year. The Saints have 19 players set to enter unrestricted free agency. Not all of them will be back on the roster, but the front office needs to make an effort to bring back impactful players who will help them in their rebuild.
The Saints need to be careful with their cap, but they have significantly more money to spend than in previous years. This should allow them the options to keep some star players, even if their price tag is hefty.
With that said, here are three players the Saints should look to re-sign this offseason, and two they should let go elsewhere.
The Saints should keep Julian Blackmon
Julian Blackmon: Re-sign
Most fans will forget Julian Blackmon is on the roster because he was signed shortly after Tyrann Mathieu retired, additionally he tore his labrum in week one which caused him to miss most of the year. However, he played well in training camp and earned the starting spot over rookie Jonas Sanker, who went on to have a fantastic season. Blackmon likely won’t be a starter next year, but will be a valuable depth piece if the Saints keep him, which wouldn’t be expensive to do.
Alontae Taylor: Let walk
Alontae Taylor is the toughest decision on this list, but they should let him test his options. He’s an amazing player who impacts the game in a variety of ways and will likely garner some large contract offers this offseason, which the Saints shouldn’t match. They can find a suitable replacement in free agency or the draft and would get a compensatory pick next offseason. It’s a hard choice, but Taylor may be repping another team next year.
Luke Fortner: Re-sign
The Saints trading for Luke Fortner was quietly one of their best moves this season. He took over as the starter in week eight after Erik McCoy suffered a season ending injury and never looked back. He wasn’t anything exceptional, but was more than serviceable for rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. It’s entirely likely fans don’t see Shough’s breakout without Fortner’s contributions. This is a no brainer, the Saints should bring back the veteran center.
Dillon Radunz: Let Walk
Similarly to Fortner, Radunz took over early in the season as the full-time starter, but he was a liability on the interior. He was viewed as a great pickup last year, sadly never living up to his potential. It’s best for both sides if Radunz finds a new team next.
Demario Davis: Re-sign
This is the easiest decision, if Demario Davis doesn’t retire then he will be back on the Saints. The 37 year old linebacker hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down and is a leader on and off the field. They should keep giving Davis one year deals until he decides to hang up the cleats. He’s a franchise icon and someone who will always have a spot on the roster.