The 2025 offseason is shaping up to be an explosive one for the NFL. There are a lot of teams that have to make big decisions, several star players that could be cut or traded, and a ton of really good free agents. Once the regular season arrives, the league could look completely different.
The New Orleans Saints are expected to play a role in the chaos, but their contribution is expected to be saying goodbye to some established veterans, not welcoming any new stars. With the Saints hoping to get under the salary cap, while also getting younger and better, they could part ways with several veterans this offseason.
Of course, that doesn’t mean New Orleans will completely neglect trying to add new players. The Saints will try to land talented free agents like all other teams, and there’s one free agent that is considered as the perfect target for New Orleans. Gary Davenport made this argument in a recent Bleacher Report piece, naming the perfect free-agent signing for all 32 teams.
For New Orleans, Davenport named edge defender Matthew Judon as the guy to get in free agency.
Matthew Judon named perfect free agency target for Saints
Davenport pointed out how New Orleans desperately needs help at the edge spot, especially since Chase Young will likely find a new team this offseason. Judon makes sense for the Saints because he’s talented, and he might actually be affordable for the team, since he isn’t coming off one of his best years.
"The Saints could see Young walk in free agency, the team passed on Payton Turner's fifth-year option and Cameron Jordan will be 36 when the 2025 season begins. Like seemingly every team in the NFC South, New Orleans needs an edge-rusher. The problem here is painfully familiar, though. The Saints are a ridiculous $47 million and change over the salary cap for 2025. That likely limits them to a "prove it" deal or two with players like Judon, who has just 9.5 sacks the past two seasons but tallied 15.5 with the Patriots in 2022."Gary Davenport (Bleacher Report)
Spending last season with the Atlanta Falcons, Judon recorded 5.5 sacks, seven tackles for a loss, five pass deflections, and one interception. He isn’t producing like he was when he went to four straight Pro Bowls from 2019 to 2022, but he’s still a productive edge defender in the league.
At 33 years old, at the start of next season, he isn’t the long-term edge option New Orleans is hoping to land, but he’d definitely be a solid option if the team can get him on a good deal.