The New Orleans Saints are heading into the 2026 offseason with a familiar challenge: trying to improve a playoff-caliber roster while navigating tight financial waters. With the NFL’s projected salary cap expected to top $300 million, the league's spending power is growing-but the Saints are still walking a financial tightrope. So rather than chasing headline-grabbing names, New Orleans is focused on smart, strategic additions-players who can make a difference in December without forcing a complete overhaul of the salary structure.
That urgency is mirrored in the team’s draft outlook. ESPN’s latest mock draft has the Saints using the No. 8 pick on Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson-an “electric” playmaker who could thrive in Kellen Moore’s offense and give quarterback Tyler Shough a dynamic new weapon.
But the draft is just one piece of the puzzle. The Saints’ needs are clear, and ESPN’s offseason breakdown gets right to the point: they need more firepower at receiver and must address looming decisions on two franchise cornerstones-Demario Davis and Cameron Jordan-both of whom are nearing the twilight of their careers.
Even if Davis and Jordan return, New Orleans needs to inject more speed, more explosiveness, and more long-term stability into its roster. That’s especially true on offense, where the Saints have struggled to consistently stretch the field, and on defense, where the middle of the field has become increasingly vulnerable.
That’s where free agency comes in. The Saints don’t need to swing for the fences-they need to make three targeted signings that can elevate their game-day efficiency and reduce the burden on aging stars. Let’s break down the three players who could do just that.
1. Alec Pierce - The Vertical Threat This Offense Has Been Missing
Let’s start with the passing game. Chris Olave has proven he can be a go-to target, but without a true deep threat opposite him, defenses have been able to key in and limit the Saints’ aerial attack. That’s where Alec Pierce comes in.
Pierce brings vertical juice-real, field-stretching speed that forces safeties to stay honest and corners to respect the deep ball. That spacing matters.
With Pierce in the lineup, the geometry of the field changes. Safeties can’t cheat up, which opens up slants, digs, and crossers underneath.
Play-action becomes more effective because linebackers and safeties have to pause, even just for a beat. And in today’s NFL, that beat is everything.
He’s also a red zone asset. Pierce has the size and leaping ability to win contested catches, especially on go routes and deep crossers. The Saints haven’t had a consistent threat like that to complement Olave, and it’s shown-particularly in tight games where one or two explosive plays can swing momentum.
The beauty of Pierce’s game is that he doesn’t need a dozen targets to impact the outcome. Just a few touches can shift defensive alignments and force coordinators to adjust. That kind of gravity is rare-and valuable.
2. Tyler Linderbaum - The Anchor in the Trenches
Saints fans know this all too well: when the interior offensive line breaks down, everything else follows. A collapsing pocket leaves the quarterback nowhere to go.
A stagnant run game leads to too many second-and-longs. And when you're constantly behind the sticks, your playbook shrinks.
Enter Tyler Linderbaum.
He’s not flashy, but he’s exactly what this offense needs-a rock-solid center who can stabilize the line and elevate everyone around him. Linderbaum plays with strength, leverage, and the kind of mobility that fits perfectly in a system looking to stretch defenses horizontally. He can reach, pull, climb to the second level-all the things today’s centers need to do in both the run and pass game.
But it’s not just about physical tools. Great centers are communicators.
They’re traffic cops, setting protections, identifying blitzes, and making sure the quarterback isn’t staring down a free rusher before the snap. Linderbaum checks that box too.
For New Orleans, this is about stability. The offense has weapons.
It has a quarterback with tools. What it needs is a steady presence in the middle to keep the train on the tracks.
Linderbaum gives them that-and more.
And let’s not forget: the Saints have a history of getting the most out of their offensive line when they have a true anchor at center. Linderbaum fits that mold.
3. Devin Lloyd - The Future of the Saints’ Defense
For years, Demario Davis has been the heartbeat of the Saints’ defense-tough, smart, and always around the football. But time waits for no one, and with both Davis and Cameron Jordan approaching critical crossroads in their careers, the Saints need to start thinking about what’s next.
Devin Lloyd is a linebacker built for the modern NFL. He’s fast, fluid, and comfortable in space.
He can cover tight ends, close down throwing lanes, and chase down plays from sideline to sideline. In short, he’s the kind of athlete who can take away those easy completions that have started to creep into the Saints’ defensive tape.
Even if Davis returns for another season, Lloyd gives New Orleans something it hasn’t had enough of lately-range. He can drop into coverage without needing safety help, allowing the Saints to disguise looks and stay versatile. And in a league where offenses are constantly attacking the middle of the field, having a linebacker who can hold up in space is no longer a luxury-it’s a necessity.
Adding Lloyd also gives the Saints flexibility. It allows them to rotate their front seven more effectively, manage snaps for veterans, and stay aggressive without overcommitting.
A Calculated Path Forward
In an offseason where fans will clamor for blockbuster trades and big-name signings, the Saints are playing a smarter game. They don’t need the loudest moves-they need the right ones.
Alec Pierce stretches the field and opens up the offense. Tyler Linderbaum fortifies the trenches and brings stability. Devin Lloyd injects speed and youth into a defense that’s been leaning on its veterans for too long.
These are the kinds of additions that don’t just fill holes-they raise the ceiling. And in a league where margins are razor-thin, that’s how you win games in December and beyond.
With the quarterback situation still a talking point-especially with ESPN floating Pittsburgh as a potential trade partner for Spencer Rattler-every move the Saints make this spring will be under the microscope.
But if they stick to this plan-adding smart, strategic pieces that fit their identity-they’ll be right where they want to be: in the thick of the playoff race, playing clean, efficient football when it matters most.