3 unexpected free agent signings the New Orleans Saints could still make happen

1. Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE

This year, the New Orleans Saints defensive line is going to look a lot different. Gone are Marcus Davenport, David Onyemata, and Shy Tuttle. In their place will be Nathan Shepherd, Khalen Saunders, Bryan Bresee, and Isaiah Foskey.

Throw in Cam Jordan and Carl Granderson — who are the only two returning starters on the line — and they should be fine. But they also don't know exactly what they're going to get from Foskey, a rookie second-round pick, or even Bresee who was a first-round selection. There's also Payton Turner who was a former Round 1 pick but he has yet to solidify a role.

New Orleans could decide to allow these players to fight for their spots during camp, which appears to be the route they're going. But if they don't feel comfortable with what they see, they still have options in free agency.

The best-remaining pass rusher is Yannick Ngakoue, who has become a bit of a journeyman. Following a four-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ngakoue has been with four teams over the past three seasons. Even with the constant moving, he's performed well at each stop.

In 2020, he split time with the Vikings and Ravens and finished with eight sacks. He then signed with the Raiders in 2021 and had 10 sacks followed by 9.5 with the Colts in 2022.

For some reason, he's still on the open market which is odd for a player who is 28, doesn't have health concerns, and had 65 sacks in seven seasons in the NFL — and 19.5 over the past two.

Perhaps signing him to a one-year deal could give their younger players time to develop while offering the Saints a player capable of putting up double-digit sacks across from Jordan.

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