Disappointing Raiders DE highlights potential free-agency additions for Saints
Free agency begins March 15 at 4 p.m. ET.
Positional needs: QB, RB, DT, DE, WR, G
No team may have a worse outlook for 2023. Despite GM Mickey Loomis’ assertions to the contrary, the Saints aren’t close to contention. They have the oldest roster in football, no plan at QB and are poor at rushing and stopping the run. Dennis Allen is 15-38 as a head coach.
The Saints are $58.1 million over the cap, and Loomis will need to do his usual financial gymnastics to get the team out of the red. Even if New Orleans uses the maximum restructure on its player contracts, the team will still only have $39.5 million in cap space. That’s hardly enough to fill every hole the team has, let alone be in the conversation for a marquee quarterback.
Andrew Billings, DT, Las Vegas Raiders
Even more disappointing than the Saints’ listless offense was the major regression of the team’s rush defense. New Orleans allowed 130.5 yards per game and more than 200 yards three times, including both games against Atlanta.
The Saints may find it difficult to retain defensive tackle David Onyemata, and after the defensive line’s disappointing 2022, a change of scenery might be for the best. Onyemata received a rush-defense grade of 53, ranking 115th of 220 interior defensive linemen, per Pro Football Focus.
Billings ranked 22nd and received a 72.3 grade on his rush defense.
Kenyan Drake, RB, Baltimore Ravens
The Saints need depth behind Alvin Kamara, and Drake could fit the team’s financial constraints.
He joined the Ravens on a one-year, $1 million contract before the 2022 season and was active for 12 games. He was solid, as he has been during his entire career. In seven years, Drake has never averaged less than four yards per carry in a season.
While it can be risky paying running backs as they approach their late 20s, Drake, 28, doesn’t have the wear of backs whose production dropped off at a similar point.
His most touches came in 2020 when he had 239 carries for the Cardinals. He has two seasons of at least 50 catches and could be a seamless fit for the offense when Kamara needs a break.
Clelin Ferrell, DE, Las Vegas Raiders
There’s no need to make a bad decision worse, which is what the Saints must do if they want to keep defensive end Marcus Davenport.
Loomis should have never traded up for him in the 2018 draft. After recording half of a sack in 2022, the GM should think long and hard before re-signing the former 14th overall pick.
The Raiders made a bad choice as well when they drafted Ferrell fourth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. His 10 career sacks likely have the Raiders wishing they drafted edge rusher Brian Burns or Josh Allen instead.
Ferrell likely won’t command a ton of interest and could be a player the Saints buy low on with the hope that he realizes his potential in New Orleans.
