A total of 31 players currently on the New Orleans Saints’ roster have expiring contracts this offseason. I’ve included a list of them below along with my prediction on the chances of the Saints re-signing them. I’ve also included a number of Saints players under contract that have contracts that could jeopardize their standing with the team. Keep in mind that whether the free agents below are “restricted” or “unrestricted” will depend on the terms of any new CBA, should that happen.
Here are the list of expiring Saints’ contracts:
LIKELY UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
Scott Shanle- I wouldn’t be shocked if someone threw silly money at him, much like what the Browns did with Scott Fujita. I’m sure the Saints would like to bring him back, but not at any price. While he’s reliable the Saints may want a more explosive, playmaking linebacker to replace him. We’ve been saying that for years, though, and Shanle always seems to beat out whatever competition they bring in. My gut says he stays.
Jonathan Goodwin- He’s a Pro Bowl quality center and the Saints will do everything in their power to keep him. He’s been durable and dependable, and he’s in line for a big contract extension. My best guess is that the Saints will shell out the big bucks to keep him. He stays.
Darren Sharper- He’s as good as gone. The Saints feel good about Malcolm Jenkins at free safety now, and Sharper is clearly not the same player after knee surgery.
Heath Evans- He had a decent season, but the knee injury definitely seemed to affect his speed this year. Evans has also laid a lot of groundwork lately for a reporting career with time spent at ESPN. While I think he’s just setting up his retirement for the future and he’s still intent on playing football, it’s clear he’s aware his career as a player won’t last much longer. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Saints get younger and more athletic at fullback. Evans has a lot of good will in the community, though, so the Saints may want to keep him around. This one is tough, and I would hate to see him go, but I don’t think he’ll be back. I think Evans will want to come back even at less money so we’ll see.
Anthony Hargrove- He garnered some interest as a restricted free agent, so as an unrestricted one I think he’ll get offered a big contract. The Lions were after him a year ago, so that is a possible destination. I think the Saints would take him back at the right price, but they likely won’t match starter salary someone else may give him. My gut says he’s gone.
Jimmy Wilkerson- He didn’t impress much as a reserve. I don’t think the Saints will bring him back.
Julius Jones- His fumbles the last two weeks were bad. He showed some ability but I don’t think the Saints will have him back.
Ladell Betts- No way he returns.
Danny Clark- My gut says he stays. While the Saints prefer him as a backup and they’ll do their best to get some good competition for him, he’s a reliable veteran that can probably be had pretty cheap. I doubt another team will come in at this stage of Clark’s career and throw big money at him.
Kawika Mitchell- I doubt he comes back. He’s a veteran special teamer that has proven ability but the Saints want to get younger at linebacker, not older.
Pierson Prioleau- Gregg Williams coming back is a huge boost to his chances. He’s always been a Williams favorite. I think he stands a decent chance of coming back at the veteran’s minimum.
Matt Giordano- Hard to say. Could be a camp body but he didn’t show much this season.
Roman Harper- The Seattle game aside, I think the Saints will throw a big contract at Harper. No chance they let him go. He’s too valuable to the defense and he’s a big part of Gregg Williams’ success. He statys.
Lance Moore- This could be tricky. The Saints will want to lowball Moore at maybe $2-$3 million per season and I have a feeling Lance Moore is going to value himself higher. Someone desperate for receiver help (like the Rams or Bears) could easily throw stupid money at him. Could be dicey but I think the Saints will do their best to keep him.
David Thomas- I think the Saints will keep him. He is a smart and valuable backup that’s productive and understands the offense.
Zach Strief- If any other team in the league offers him a chance to start, he’s gone. At this point, I think Strief is just looking for an opportunity. He’s been pinned behind Jon Stinchcomb his whole career. I love big Zach, but I think he’ll sign elsewhere so he can get his full opportunity.
Courtney Roby- He’s a huge part of Saints’ special teams. How the return game fared in his absence was a painful reminder of how badly they need him. He’s not going anywhere.
Leigh Torrence- He could easily be back at the veteran’s minimum. I think he comes back for training camp, but could easily be a camp casualty.
Pierre Thomas- The contract issues combined with the injuries are going to make it extremely hard for him to come back. Other teams will offer him money, possibly, though the potential of surgery will hurt his payday. I just think the relationship is broken at this point between Thomas and the Saints. I’m not even sure the lowball offer they made him last offseason will still be on the table. I don’t think he’ll return.
Jermon Bushrod- He’s going to be looking for starting left tackle money. I do not think he’ll be back with the Saints next year. Just a gut feeling, but the Saints have several guys they need to pay. Goodwin, Nicks, Roman Harper, Lance Moore… I don’t think Bushrod has performed well enough for the Saints to justify investing in him long term. Remember Charles Brown is waiting in the wings behind him, too. With so many teams desperately looking to shore up spotty offensive line play, someone will pay him more than he’s worth. I just don’t think it’ll be the Saints.
Remi Ayodele- The Saints appreciate his run stopping abilities and they value him as a starter. I believe they re-sign at a smaller contract and attempt to bring in good competition. If he keeps improving there is no reason he won’t remain a starter, though.
Jeff Charleston- The Saints love him as a reserve and they will make sure he is back.
Marvin Mitchell- He’s a solid backup and the Saints will make sure he returns as well.
Usama Young- With Sharper gone, the Saints will want a backup free safety. Young has shown promise to me, so I’d like to see him return. The Saints have made him inactive on gameday for several weeks, though, and that tells me he’s fallen out of favor with the staff. Usama Young always seems like he’s in Sean Payton’s doghouse. Personally, I want him as the backup to Malcolm Jenkins. I think he’s a good player that has played well in spot duty. My gut tells me the Saints won’t re-sign him though. We’ll see.
Chris Reis- He’ll be at Saints camp I’m sure, but it may be tough to rebound from being on IR all year. He’ll have to remind the Saints how valuable he is on special teams.
Tory Humphrey- The blocking tight end will probably come back to camp. I have to say he didn’t impress me when he played.
DeShawn Wynn- I doubt he returns.
POSSIBLY RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:
Carl Nicks- The new CBA will be at play here. He’s got 3 years of experience, so under the old CBA that would make him a restricted free agent. Depending on how the new one turns out, he may be unrestricted. If he’s restricted, the Saints could get away with signing him to a one year deal. Either way, there is no way they will risk losing him. He’ll be hitting the jackpot really soon.
Garrett Hartley- I see Hartley as the long term kicker for the franchise. I believe Payton will give him a healthy raise and a long term deal.
Jo-Lonn Dunbar- He’s definitely coming back, the Saints like his potential. He’s still a backup until he can make that jump in quality of play, though.
Anthony Waters- Backup at best. Camp body again, I’m sure, but questionable to make the team.
PLAYERS WITH CONTRACT ISSUES:
Reggie Bush- Scheduled to make $11.8 next year, there is no way that’s going to happen. He’ll either restructure, get released, or be traded. The latter two aren’t ideal options for the Saints because of the cap hit they would suffer
. While those aren’t good deals, keeping him at $11.8 million is even less attractive. Recent comments in the press are encouraging that Reggie is open and realistic to restructuring his deal. Based on his willingness to stay, I think they’ll get a deal done. Sean Payton is an offensive wizard and he realizes the matchup issues that Bush causes. Even if he’s not individually productive, his mere presence on the field makes the offensive production better.
Devery Henderson- Scheduled to make $2.25 million. I think the Saints will keep him, but his production this year was very poor. It will depend on how high/low the salary cap is, and how far up against it they are based on the players they pay above. He’s definitely at risk of being cut.
Randall Gay- Scheduled to make $3.5 million and he spend the majority of last year on IR. The Saints feel good about Patrick Robinson as their #3 corner, and I don’t think they’ll care to spend that much on a #4 corner coming off an injury. He’s a cap casualty for sure.
Drew Brees- He’s in the last year of his deal and he wants an extension. In New Orleans, when Brees says he wants something, you give it to him. It’s going to be a blockbuster deal for sure. I think the Saints make it happen. They have to. The guy is their franchise and they don’t want to drag this out and piss him off.
Jeremy Shockey- He’s a walking injury. He’s due $4.2 million next year and the Saints love Jimmy Graham. I think the Saints feel good about Graham and they love David Thomas as a backup. If they can re-sign Thomas, I think Shockey is gone. I’m sure they’ll approach Shockey about restructuring, and I’m sure there’s no way he’ll accept that. I’m calling it now, Shockey will not be a Saint next year.
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