Saints rank among the NFL's lowest spenders in undrafted free agency
Saints rank among the NFL's lowest spenders in undrafted free agency
For years the New Orleans Saints were seen as an attractive team for undrafted free agents, giving long-shot rookies better odds of making the team than other outfits around the league. It goes back to the early days of the Sean Payton-and-Drew Brees era, when the Saints consistently found diamonds in the rough like running back Pierre Thomas and wide receiver Lance Moore. More recently, the Saints have found Pro Bowl-level talents after the draft like special teams ace J.T. Gray and returns specialist Rashid Shaheed (who has become a dynamite receiver in his own right).
But 2025's rookie free agent class doesn't have as much momentum behind them. For one thing, it's one of the smaller classes around the league, with just 11 players. That's tied with four other teams to rank 23rd in the NFL, half the size of the Jacksonville Jaguars' 22-man class. Four more teams each signed 20 or more rookie free agents this spring.
For another thing, based on the latest reporting, the Saints guaranteed just $904,000 between those 11 players. Six teams gave out at least $2 million in guarantees, each, while 14 teams got to at least $1 million. The Saints, at best, rank around the league's middle class. Guarantees are a useful yardstick because that's how teams outbid each other to recruit rookies after the draft. If a player was guaranteed a big portion of his contract, the team clearly expects him to win a roster spot, and they had to fight out competitors to get him.
Which means other teams weren't banging on the door to get a word in with many of the Saints' rookie free agents. Former South Carolina guard Torriccelli Simpkins III received the highest guarantees on the team, at $259,000, but just two other players broke the $100,000 threshold -- Kansas State tackle Easton Kilty ($240,000) and Delaware running back Marcus Yarns ($120,000). The details aren't in on Hunter Dekkers' contract, but seeing as he only signed after trying out at rookie minicamp, we're guessing the Saints didn't guarantee him much money.
Why did this change? When did the Saints go from a powerhouse in undrafted free agency to a team that's fallen behind? The main culprit would be a lack of opportunities in New Orleans. If all things are equal, young pros would rather go somewhere they have a real shot at competing for a roster spot than coming to the Saints, where they would be stuck behind older veterans on the defensive line like Cameron Jordan, Nathan Shepherd, and Davon Godchaux. It's a similar story at other positions. Young guys want to go where they can play, and the Saints don't have as many of those opportunities as other teams.
Still, guys beat the odds all the time. Once the pads come on and practice intensity ramps up at training camp, we'll start to find out which of these rookies has a real shot at making the team. Maybe someone surprises us. But for now, it's probably best to keep expectations muted.
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