Every year, we wonder if the New Orleans Saints will be able to open enough cap space to sign big-name free agents. Usually, the Saints make enough room to sign a quality starter or two, but never the big stars on day one. 2026 was different, however.
The Saints opened over $20 million in cap space with just three moves and used it immediately.
DT John Ridgeway, 2-year $6.2 million
The Saints started free agency by resigning defensive tackle John Ridgeway III.
Ridgeway spent most of the 2025 season dealing with injuries. He missed the first
seven weeks of the season on the injured reserve, returned for Week 8, and was a healthy scratch until Weeks 17-18.
There’s a decent amount of criticism revolving around Ridgeway’s signing, but it’s a small commitment on paper. He’s getting $1.65 million guaranteed and $1.65 million signing bonus. The former Washington Commander is serviceable and returns to the team on a small deal.
Grade: B
P Ryan Wright, 4-year $14 million
This will go down as one of the most underrated moves of the offseason for the Saints. Punter has been a problem since Thomas Morstead was released in 2021. Punter problems for five years have led to way too many losses.
Kai Kroeger had a bad showing in 2025, averaging 44.8 yards per punt, ranking 30th in the NFL. Wright was a significant jump better, averaging 49.0 yards per punt, ranking 8th in the NFL.
Solidifying a punter helps your defense significantly and gives Tyler Shough a little more leeway. Wright becomes the fifth-highest-paid punter in the NFL.
Grade: A
RB Travis Etienne, 4-year $52 million
It didn’t take long after their first signing that the Saints made a splash move. It was exactly one hour after that when the announcement came. The Saints are signing former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million deal.
The deal is being lightly criticized as an overpay. Etienne’s contract makes him the sixth-highest paid running back in the NFL. While it’s pretty easy to argue that the former Clemson running back isn’t top six at his position, it’s important to factor in the running back market.
Kenneth Walker III signed a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs that will pay him $15 million a season. Etienne gets $13 million a year. The two running backs put together similar seasons, with Walker having a chance to sign in the playoffs and the Super Bowl.
More importantly, there’s an anticipated market reset for running backs, with Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs awaiting extensions. With Saquon Barkley making over $20 million annually, Robinson and Gibbs will destroy that number, balancing out Etienne and Walker’s paydays.
Grade: A
OG David Edwards, 4-year, $61 million
The Saints quickly got their second target of free agency wrapped under contract. In a splash move, New Orleans agreed to a four-year deal with former Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards. The veteran guard gets $15 million per season.
The Saints are solidifying their offensive line. They have their tackles of the future in Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga, and when healthy, Erik McCoy is a Pro Bowl center. There are questions surrounding Caesar Ruiz, but he’s still a solid option at right guard.
The Saints must keep Tyler Shough upright and healthy. Establishing a running game and solidifying the run game are great ways to do it. And Edwards on $15 million per season feels like great value for veteran presence on a young offensive line.
Grade: A+
TE Noah Fant, 2-year deal
The Saints closed out Day 1 by signing free agent tight end Noah Fant, a player they targeted in 2025. While contract details haven’t been made public yet, it’s a two-year deal.
Fant is a solid receiving back, but has some issues as a blocker. The move has been both criticized and praised, but it’s likely a cheap deal. Adding another solid target for Shough is never a bad idea, and Fant adds more veteran presence to a young Saints offense.
The move isn’t much more than solid, but it is a quality signing pending the full contract details.
Grade: B-
Recap
Call me an optimist, but Day 1 of free agency went great for the Saints. They came out as winners on the day and got better.
Yes, they lost valuable pieces. Demario Davis and Alontae Taylor are gone, and filling their spots won’t be easy. New Orleans probably feels they have the right guys in the room to fill Davis’ shoes, and they wouldn’t have been able to match Taylor’s $20 million per season contract.
Despite these losses, there’s plenty of free agency to go, and a top-10 draft pick sets the Saints up to be better in 2026.
