While it may often seem like teams are far away from becoming a contender, the NFL has shown that teams are really just one good offseason away. The Philadelphia Eagles just won Super Bowl 59 because of the moves they made last offseason. The Washington Commanders, who lost in the NFC Championship, made it there after a 4-13 season because they made all the right moves in the spring.
This offseason, every team will try to follow suit, including the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans is coming off a 5-12 season, and hired a new head coach in Kellen Moore this offseason. While the Saints are working to get under the salary cap, Mickey Loomis has expressed that he wants to be more active in free agency.
If the team can stay healthy— a big if —they could be a few major signings away from actually being a contender in 2025. Let’s take a look at three possible signings that would elevate the Saints to contender status.
3. Defensive tackle Poona Ford could elevate Saints defense
New Orleans had a lot of disappointing moments in 2024, but one of the most disappointing things fans witnessed was the demise of the defense. Despite still having talented players, and remaining a relatively healthy unit, the defense was abysmal at times. One thing New Orleans really struggled to do was stop the run.
Run defense starts up front with defensive linemen, and that’s where Poona Ford comes in. The veteran defensive tackle, who has played for the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills, is coming off a three-sack year with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Saints could certainly use his presence in the middle of the defensive line, adding him to a defensive tackle rotation that needs to be better.
2. Mekhi Becton would stabilize New Orleans’ offensive line
The Saints’ 2024 season started to go down the drain once offensive linemen started to go down with injuries. Simply put, New Orleans didn’t have enough depth at the most important position group in football. In order for the Saints to be a contender, that has to change.
Fortunately, New Orleans’ new head coach, Kellen Moore, is coming from the team with the best, and deepest offensive line in the league. That’s a good thing because Moore might be able to recruit some Eagles players to the Saints. Specifically, he could bring Mekhi Becton to New Orleans.
Becton, a 2020 first-round pick, revamped his career last season in Philadelphia. After playing four years as a tackle with the New York Jets, he moved to guard with the Eagles and became a force. It’s safe to assume he’ll stay at guard moving forward, and that’s exactly what New Orleans needs. He could slide right in at left guard and immediately elevate the offensive line.
1. Davante Adams would take the Saints offense to a new level
The biggest name New Orleans has the chance of landing is Davante Adams, and that’s because of his connection to Derek Carr. The Saints also have Keith Williams as their wide receiver coach, who Adams has a great relationship with. Those connections are important, because other teams, closer to contender status, will surely be able to offer Adams more money.
Beyond the connections, Davante Adams makes a lot of sense for New Orleans because the team needs help at wide receiver. The Saints don’t have much after Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, and Adams would make an elite trio with the two young wideouts.