New Orleans Saints Dynasty Fantasy Football Free Agency Preview 2026

Mickey Loomis is the longest tenured NFL general manager (who doesn't also own the team). He also has the longest running battle with the salary cap as, for the sixth year in a row, his New Orleans Saints are sitting $40 million over the cap. They currently rank 31st of 32 teams in that category. That really seems to be the general strategy over there - fly as close to the sun as possible and figure the rest out later. That often involves kicking the cap hit can to future years.

It also typically prevents them from signing a lot of the big name free agents out there. They have their own aging free agents to try to retain, like Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Taysom Hill as well. So, with the fourth team in our annual free agency series, we’ve got our work cut out for us trying to figure out how the New Orleans Saints should handle free agency in 2026. 

If you’d like to see where the Saints weapons fall for us in dynasty, become a Fantasy Alarm Member today to access our full Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings along with our buy, hold, or sell recommendations!

*The salary cap numbers referenced in this article come courtesy of our friends over at Spotrac.com*

New Orleans Saints Depth Chart 2026 (Fantasy Football Relevant)

KEY

• White = free agent
• Green = role is safe
• Yellow =  role in flux
• Orange = likely a depth piece
• Red = roster spot not guaranteed

New Orleans Saints Free Agency 2026

• PROJECTED 2026 SALARIES: $328M
• ESTIMATED 2026 CAP SPACE: -$40M

Free Agent Types

Unrestricted free agent: Any player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. They are free to negotiate with any team.

Restricted free agent: A player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. The CBA allowed for NFL teams to tender these players to one year qualifying offers to retain them. Another team can sign them, but would need to provide the tendering team with compensation. In layman’s terms, if a new team signs a player, the current team can match it or they receive the corresponding pick from the new team. These are the projected RFA tender levels per OverTheCap.com:

• 1st Round - $7,893,000
• 2nd Round - $5,658,000
• Right of First Refusal - $3,453,000

Exclusive rights free agent: Any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum, the player cannot negotiate with other teams. If the team wants the player back, these contracts are a no-brainer as the player either needs to play on the contract or sit out. 

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Depth Chart

Tyler Shough

Tyler Shough is green here on the chart, as comments from Kellen Moore tell us they are committed to him starting in 2026. That doesn’t mean he’s the long-term answer, but we are focusing on free agency in 2026. I’m a Shough fan personally, but regardless of my feelings, if you are committing to him in 2026, it does not make sense to spend up either in free agency or the draft on guys to compete with him for the job now.

Just keep in mind how quickly the narrative can flip on young quarterbacks - especially ones drafted outside of the first round. I still remember when everyone was hyped on Mac Jones having the second-most accurate rookie season of all time. Guys like Davis Mills, Sam Howell, and Desmond Ridder all had some steam that quickly dissipated. If you are rooting for Shough, you are rooting for the Saints to win games in 2026 because, if they finish last in the division again, he'll very likely be on the hot seat. And he won't be green on the chart in this article next year.

Spencer Rattler

As fans, we often look at the backup quarterback and say, “trade him”. Even Chris Olave thinks Rattler deserves to start somewhere. But the real NFL doesn’t always work like that. The Saints have historically struggled with the cap, and they currently have two quarterbacks they like on rookie deals. They don’t really have much incentive to help out other teams unless they are willing to give up something meaningful. So I expect Rattler to remain in New Orleans as depth for now.

• Reserves/Futures: N/A

Saints QB FREE AGENCY TAKE: The Saints don’t really need to do anything here if they don’t want to. They could potentially also bring Jake Haener and/or Hunter Dekkers back to the practice squad if they want. But let’s say, hypothetically, the Saints do trade Spencer Rattler. The next move would be to bring in a non-threatening backup to operate as a “player-coach” to help Tyler Shough develop. Here’s what that list might look like. 

• POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Carson Wentz, Case Keenum, Tyrod Taylor, Josh Johnson

New Orleans Saints Running Back Depth Chart

Alvin Kamara

Everyone on social media has tried to trade Alvin Kamara away. They’ve been begging the Saints to trade him to a destination like the Chiefs. But the truth is that he doesn’t want to go anywhere. He said that he and GM Mickey Loomis talked about the rumors and neither one of them have said they ever mentioned a trade to anyone. And Loomis gave Kamara an extension during the 2024 season that makes it unlikely for him to go anywhere anyway. The Saints would have to eat $15.3M in dead cap and save only ~$3.4M if they moved him. Even if they trade him after the 6/1 deadline, they still eat that $15M, they would just have the option to spread it over two years.

So the reality is that Alvin Kamara will very likely be a Saint into 2026. The only question is whether or not his role is reduced. Maybe they use a bruiser back and focus on Kamara being the pass down back (and throwing to the back is also something Kellen Moore doesn’t like doing). Or maybe Kamara is just the starter again in 2026 for one last ride. But I expect him to be a Saint unless he retires out of the blue. 

Kendre Miller

Kendre Miller started slow, only playing 15% of the snaps in the first couple of games. By Week 5 and 6, that number was up to 39%. But an injury cut his 2025 season short. He’s under contract on a rookie deal in 2026, so, assuming he recovers from the torn ACL suffered in Week 7, I expect him to be battling for a role once again as well as a future with the team. 

Devin Neal

After Kamara and Miller went down, the rookie Neal took over RB1 duties. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious hamstring injury of his own that landed him on season-ending IR. There are no reports of it being severe enough to require surgery, so we expect him back for the 2026 season - which could present an opportunity if Miller is not ready to go to start the year. Neal was a sixth-round pick this past year, so he’s on a cheap contract through 2026. 

Audric Estime

This is where decisions will need to be made. Estime is under contract for 2026 at just over $1M, but he can be released with no dead cap. If Kendre Miller isn’t anywhere close and ends up on the PUP list, they will need bodies. But Estime was really only added to the roster in October as a bandage for injuries in the first place. 

Evan Hull

Like Estime, Hull was signed in late October as depth due to all the running back injuries. He was touted as a pass-catching back when the Colts drafted him in 2023, but he has bounced around to the Steelers and now, the Saints. Both Estime and Hull were asked to play some special teams, but not enough to justify both of them. Estime played over Hull, but the one benefit for Hull over Estime is that Estime would be a restricted free agent in 2027. Due to a lack of service time, Hull would be an exclusive rights free agent, making him cheaper and easier to retain.

• Reserves/Futures: N/A

Saints RB FREE AGENCY TAKE: Alvin Kamara isn’t getting any younger. But the Saints already have a litany of cheap depth on the roster as it stands, so they don’t really need any more young “projects”. Assuming Kendre Miller is healthy enough, they might just be okay standing pat at RB.

If they are going to draft another running back, this time they should target a high-end back to be the true heir to Alvin Kamara. We saw what Kellen Moore did in Philadelphia with Saquon Barkley. It's also worth noting that legendary offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland walked away from Philly - Moore would be wise to reach out to see if maybe he wants to come work on the Saints staff.

If they aren't planning to go big at RB in the draft, the only other move I could see is bringing in a cheap veteran bruiser to compliment Kamara until Kendre Miller is healthy. Here are some options for that:

• POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Dameon Pierce, AJ Dillon, Nick Chubb, Miles Sanders

New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver Depth Chart

Chris Olave

The Saints (correctly) picked up the fifth-year option on Chris Olave. So he’s back for 2026. But now is the time to start thinking about an extension to keep the star player happy. The going rate for a player like this is four years and north of $30 million per year. Garrett Wilson received a four-year, $130 million extension with $90 million guaranteed, and I believe that is pretty fair for what Olave offers. If you truly believe in Tyler Shough, it would be wise to just get that done and avoid any sort of holdout or ugliness so these guys can work on chemistry. 

Devaughn Vele

Devaughn Vele joined the Saints in August before the season when Sean Payton traded him to his former team for a fourth and seventh round pick. He was originally working behind Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks, but following their departure, was playing a ~90% snap share along with Chris Olave. 

At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Vele was kind of a redundant asset in Denver with Courtland Sutton at split end. He played some “big slot” but ended up being a better fit on the outside for the Saints opposite Chris Olave. Vele put together some decent performances down the stretch, especially against Miami, but his season ended with a broken shoulder. The big question is whether the Saints lean on him or upgrade as they move forward - I’d cash out if you can get a second for him, otherwise I’d just hold. 

Mason Tipton

As an undrafted free agent, Tipton will be in the final year of a cheap deal before becoming a restricted free agent. He was the “next man up” following the injury to Devaughn Vele, and he also contributes on special teams, so I expect him to be back as depth. 

Dante Pettis

Dante Pettis was up for free agency last year as well, but they brought him back as he returns both kicks and punts. So, even though he’s a free agent again here, I expect him to be back in that discussion again. Which can’t be guaranteed for many of these other guys. 

Ja’Lynn Polk

The former second-round pick was traded to New Orleans for next to nothing - they swapped a sixth-round pick with a seventh-round pick with New England. With the Saints picking early and New England in the Super Bowl, that amounts to less than 10 spots at a borderline meaningless part of the draft. Polk suffered a season-ending shoulder injury before the season started, so we didn’t get to see him. That said, because of the nature of his contract as an early draft pick, it would COST the Saints $600K to release him. So he’s probably on the team unless they decide it’s eating that just to have the roster spot back.

Kevin Austin

Kevin Austin actually WAS cut. And this came after they traded Rashid Shaheed and released Brandin Cooks. He was cut in early December, cleared waivers, resigned to the practice squad, then was signed back to the roster, then actually started down the stretch. That’s how many injuries the Saints had. But it’s hard to call his roster spot safe when it wasn’t even safe two months ago. 

Bub Means

When you are a Day 3 draft pick, you still need to fight to keep your job. Unfortunately for Bub Means, both his rookie and sophomore seasons ended with serious ankle injuries. He missed the final nine games of 2024 and then all of 2025 related to high ankle issues. He can be released with very little dead cap, so he’ll have to start from square one on making the roster like a lot of guys.  

Ronnie Bell

Bell was drafted by the 49ers but eventually released. The Saints picked him up but he didn’t play until the very end of the season due to injuries. He did flash with a cool one-handed touchdown catch in the final game of the season, which is at least something in a group where a lot of guys did nothing. Still, he has zero guaranteed money tied to him and will be fighting for the late roster spots - most of which will be decided by special teams.

Trey Palmer

Palmer did not appear in any of the first four games, even on special teams, then suffered a season-ending ankle injury in practice. He can be released with zero dead cap.

Samari Toure

Toure was drafted by the Packers and released, tried out with the Bears, and then landed on the Saints' practice squad. He was a very late call-up to the roster on January 2nd, but never appeared. He can be released with zero dead cap. 

• Reserves/Futures: Elijah Cooks, Damien Alford

Saints WR FREE AGENCY TAKE: There are a LOT of names here. But most of these contracts are basically just stashed for tryouts. By my counts this team has one locked-in wide receiver in Chris Olave. Devaughn Vele and Ja’Lynn Polk will be back, given the investments in them. Mason Tipton is the closest to holding his roster spot, given his role on special teams and as a fill-in. And Dante Pettis may or may not be back, depending on whether they want him to return kicks or not.

In my opinion, the ideal configuration for this offense would include a more physical presence on the outside opposite Olave. That would allow Olave to operate the way guys like Ja'Marr Chase or Chris Godwin do as a slot/flanker. We’ve seen Kellen Moore have success with this with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Unfortunately, the Saints are once again way over the cap, so guys like Mike Evans and George Pickens aren't realistic without some serious cap help. They might not even be able to afford some of these guys, nor would they necessarily be better than Vele, so the draft might be the move.   

• POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Alec Pierce, Romeo Doubs, DeAndre Hopkins, Tim Patrick, Jalen Tolbert, Noah Brown.

New Orleans Saints Tight End Depth Chart

Juwan Johnson

The Saints made Juwan Johnson a fairly wealthy man last offseason, and they are leaning into that, funneling Johnson over 100 targets along with Chris Olave. His history as a wide receiver, along with the Saints' lack of cap space, has me interested in acquiring Johnson if I’m competing now in dynasty. Make sure you check out the full Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings to see how he stacks up.

Foster Moreau

Foster Moreau has served as the primary in-line blocking tight end for this team, but he’s coming up on free agency. Given that Juwan Johnson’s skill set skews towards “big wide receiver”, they are going to need some sort of bruiser in the room. If they can bring Moreau back on a cheap deal, then great, otherwise it’s a hole to fill.

Jack Stoll

Stoll was familiar with Kellen Moore from Philadelphia and almost certainly came over at his directive. He filled in for Foster Moreau while he was recovering from injury, but did lose those snaps back to Moreau. Stoll is a free agent, but his familiarity with Moore, his blocking ability, and his usage on multiple different special teams units for over 130 total snaps make him a candidate to return. 

Treyton Welch

Welch had a good camp, but was one of the final cuts in August. They signed him to the practice squad, where he was elevated a couple of times, and then finally signed to the active roster at the end of the season. He’ll be among many guys with no guaranteed money who are fighting for a depth spot. 

Molokai Matavao

Matavao mostly floated around the practice squad but was called up towards the end of the season. He’s technically under contract for 2026, but can be released with no dead cap. His path to the roster is via special teams.

Zaire Mitchell-Paden

They claimed him off waivers when he was released by the Ravens mid-season. He only appeared in a couple of games and can be released with zero dead cap, so he’ll need to earn his spot in camp.

Mason Pline

Pline was claimed off the wire in August, but suffered a season-ending injury within a week of being claimed. So he's another name on the team as a technicality only as of now.

• Reserves/Futures: N/A

Saints TE FREE AGENCY TAKE: As we know, the Saints and Mickey Loomis love to maneuver contracts around to keep guys hanging around the team. But all that really amounts to one question. They have Juwan Johnson as their primary pass-catching tight end. They need a primary blocking tight end. They could re-sign Foster Moreau. They could re-sign Jack Stoll, a Kellen Moore guy. They could bring in Grant Calcaterra, another Kellen Moore guy. Here are some affordable blocking TE options. They might also consider a pass-catching TE behind Juwan Johnson like a Greg Dulcich or an Anthony Firkser for depth as well. 

• POSSIBLE FREE AGENT OPTIONS: Adam Trautman, Grant Calcaterra, Charlie Kolar, Harrison Bryant, Durham Smythe 

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings

Become a Fantasy Alarm Member today to access our full Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings along with our buy, hold, or sell recommendations!