The New Orleans Saints will be looking high and low for players who can help their team when the NFL kicks off its free agency period on March 13, and that means considering who the Atlanta Falcons could let test the market. Even the dirty birds have some good players on their roster, but some of them may be in position to see the light and come play for a Super Bowl contender.
This post continues our series surveying every NFL team, looking for free agents who the Saints could target. We’ll be updating daily and twice on Saturdays, all the way up until March 12. Let’s get into what’s happening in Atlanta.
Unrestricted free agents
- CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson
- CB Justin Bethel
- DE Bruce Irvin
- DE Derrick Shelby
- DT Grady Jarrett
- DT Terrell McClain
- K Matt Bryant
- LB Kemal Ishmael
- LS Jon Condo
- OG Ben Garland
- OG Andy Levitre
- OG Zane Beadles
- OT Ty Sambrailo
- QB Matt Schaub
- RB Tevin Coleman
- SS Jordan Richards
- TE Logan Paulsen
- WR Justin Hardy
Options for the Saints
There’s no chance that the Falcons will be foolish enough to let defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (6 feet, 305 pounds) hit free agency, but the Saints should sprint to sign him if they do. He’s an ascendant talent at a position of need for the Saints who will be without Sheldon Rankins to start the year and possibly his backup, David Onyemata. Jarrett logged six sacks and led the team in hits (16) last season while showing out against the run with 11 tackles for loss or no gain. Again, re-signing Jarrett is Atlanta’s highest offseason priority, as it should be. But if he becomes available the Saints should make a move and let him play for a successful franchise.
Running back Tevin Coleman (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) shouldered the load for Atlanta last year once his copilot, Devonta Freeman, was lost to injury. Their understudy, Ito Smith, didn’t fare much better. But the result was Coleman setting career bests in rushing yards (800) and yards per carry (4.8) while catching 32 of 44 targets for another 276 yards, finding the end zone nine times on the ground and through the air. He’s a dynamic presence who was tasked with too much in 2018, and could pair incredibly well with Alvin Kamara should the Falcons let him go and Mark Ingram end up leaving New Orleans without a contract extension.
