Free agency is fast approaching and the New Orleans Saints have some important decisions to make surrounding their roster.
To understand how they make decisions like who to draft in the first round or whether or not to trade a veteran like Marshon Laittmore, the team will need to take a look at who they have under contract for 2024. They also must choose whether to release players in complicated contract situations like Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas.
Before any moves get made this offseaosn, here is how the depth chart currently sits with players that are officially under contract:
Quarterback
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| QB | Derek Carr | Jameis Winston | Jake Haener |
This position is pretty set at starter, but not behind that. The team has a decision coming up with Jameis Winston, which will dictate how the Saints look at the position in free agency. It’s likely that they won’t want to go into next season with Haener as the lone backup.
Running back
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| RB | Alvin Kamara | Jamaal Williams | Kendre Miller |
| FB |
The Saints could go the offseason without addressing the running back spot and feel fine going into 2024. All three backs on the depth chart could contribute. They are currently without a fullback under contract. Kubiak and his staff will bring in someone they feel will compliment their offense, it could or could not mean bringing back Adam Prentice for another season.
Wide receiver
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| WR | Chris Olave | ||
| WR | A.T. Perry | ||
| WR | Michael Thomas |
There could be a lot of changes coming in the wide receiver room for the Saints, with only two players on contract right now. Rashid Shaheed will be back next season, so you really could include him on this list (it’s just not official yet). Thomas is likely gone. Receiver could and should be addressed in the draft at some point, but the front office will also need to do their due diligence in free agency.
Tight end
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| TE | Taysom Hill | Juwan Johnson | Foster Moreau |
Just because they have enough players under contract right now, doesn’t mean that the Saints won’t be looking for another tight end. The offense will need better production out of the snaps that Johnson and Moreau had last season. This could be the group for next season, but expect them to bring in some competition as well.
Offensive line
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| LT | Trevor Penning | Mark Evans II | |
| LG | James Hurst | Nick Saldiveri | |
| C | Erik McCoy | ||
| RG | Cesar Ruiz | Tommy Kraemer | |
| RT | Ryan Ramczyk | Landon Young |
This is obviously a group that will get addressed in the offseason. Penning is a liability at left tackle and they could use more options/depth at guard. Andrus Peat should be a priority to bring back along with drafting a tackle high in the draft.
Defensive line
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| DE | Cameron Jordan | Tanoh Kpassagnon | Niko Lalos |
| DT | Nathan Shepherd | Bryan Bresee | Jack Heflin |
| DT | Khalen Saunders | John Penisini | |
| DE | Carl Granderson | Isaiah Foskey | Payton Turner |
It will be interesting to see how the Saints address their defensive line. They have a couple of promising pieces for next year, but overall they should have been much better than they were last year. They will likely target another pass rusher in the draft, as that was a clear weakness in their defense last season.
Linebacker
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| LB | Pete Werner | Monty Rice | |
| LB | Demario Davis | D’Marco Jackson | |
| LB | Nephi Sewell | Anfernee Orji |
Davis isn’t getting any younger, but he and Werner are still one of the better duos around the league as things currently stand. Behind them, things aren’t as firm. Sewell and Jackson have had flashes of being able to take that third role. It wouldn’t be shocking for them to look to the draft or to bring in a cheap veteran, though.
Cornerback
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| CB | Marshon Lattimore | Faion Hicks | |
| CB | Paulson Adebo | ||
| SLOT | Alontae Taylor |
Bringing Isaac Yiadom back should be a priority for the Saints as they figure out the depth at cornerback for next season. There are also continuing questions around the future of Lattimore, but for now he remains the team’s CB1. Paulson Adebo had a breakout season last year that had him looking like an All-Pro at times.
Safety
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| S | Tyrann Mathieu | J.T. Gray | |
| S | Marcus Maye | Jordan Howden |
The emergence of Howden may make it possible to save some money and part ways with Maye. That would probably be the biggest move made with this group in the offseason, though.
Specialists
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| K | Blake Grupe | ||
| P | Lou Hedley | ||
| LS | Zach Wood |
It should be expected that the team will bring in competition for the kicker and punter spots this offseason. Neither Grupe nor Hedley had outstanding rookie seasons that would have them be completely safe on the roster.
