The New Orleans Saints finally have a new head coach, officially hiring Kellen Moore on Monday. Moore had to finish his business with the Philadelphia Eagles, helping them win Super Bowl 59 before he could join the Saints. Now, he has a lot more business to handle for his new team. He’s currently in the process of building a staff, and soon, it’ll be time to construct a competitive roster.
When free agency rolls around, Kellen Moore and the Saints will have one advantage that not many teams have: a relationship with players from the Super Bowl winning team. The Eagles were a talent rich team, and that’s a big reason why they’re champions. However, NFL teams are rarely able to keep all of their talent. It’s safe to assume Philly will lose a few guys in free agency this offseason.
If those players are going to leave the defending champs, why not join the coach that helped make the team champions? Players frequently follow coaches to new destinations, and the Saints are hoping that happens this offseason. Here are four free agents for the Eagles that could follow Kellen Moore to New Orleans this offseason.
Offensive lineman Mekhi Becton
Being that Moore was the offensive coordinator, his connection will mainly be with the offensive players. One of those players is offensive lineman Mekhi Becton, and he could really fill a need for the Saints. A first-round pick for the New York Jets in 2020, Becton struggled in New York at tackle. However, he signed a one-year deal with Philly, moved inside to guard, and completely turned his career around.
He’ll now enter free agency with a new confidence, and he’ll likely have several suitors ready to line him up at guard. The Saints should be one of the interested teams. Interior offensive line depth was an issue for New Orleans this past season, and Becton could come in and be a quality starter for the group.
Running back Kenneth Gainwell
Kenneth Gainwell isn’t a star running back. This past season, he served as Saquon Barkley’s back up, carrying the ball 75 times for 290 yards and one touchdown. He also caught 16 passes for 116 yards. While his production isn’t voluminous, he plays a role New Orleans needs: a backup running back.
Alvin Kamara is still the guy in New Orleans, but the depth behind him is inconsistent, with Taysom Hill standing out as the second-leading rusher. With Kendre Miller unable to stay healthy, Gainwell can come over and be a dependable backup.
Offensive linemen Jack Driscoll and Nick Gates
Mekhi Becton would be the big grab for New Orleans, but Philly has some other free agent linemen that would be great pick ups for the Saints. Jack Driscoll and Nick Gates are two veteran interior offensive linemen that fit that category.
Neither guy played that much this past season, with Gates appearing in just nine games and Driscoll in 13— both starting one. However, they have experience. Gates has been in the league since 2019, playing for three different teams, starting 40 of the 66 games he played in. Driscoll, on the other hand, has played in Philadelphia since 2020, starting 18 of the 67 games he played in.
With the issues New Orleans had on the line last season, Kellen Moore should definitely convince both guys to come over.