NEW ORLEANS — General Manager Mickey Loomis just shoved his chips to the center of the table. The New Orleans Saints fought above their weight class during Kellen Moore’s first season as head coach, authoring a shockingly fun 6-11 run in 2025. Now? The rebuild is over. The front office attacked the open market this spring, filling massive holes to build a fortress around promising young quarterback Tyler Shough. We tracked the moves, verified the numbers, and compiled the definitive Saints 2026 free agency grades.
The air inside the Caesars Superdome feels different right now. Fans no longer whisper about salary cap hell; they scream about playoff contention. Let’s break down exactly how Loomis and Moore overhauled this roster.
The Jaguars let him walk, and New Orleans pounced. Travis Etienne signed a massive four-year contract to return to his home state of Louisiana. The 27-year-old running back shredded defenses for 1,107 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 260 carries last season. He also hauled in 36 receptions for 292 yards, proving his worth as a dangerous dual-threat weapon.
Etienne projects as the unquestioned three-down starter. He immediately breathes fire into a backfield that desperately lacked explosive plays last year. The Superdome turf is fast, and Etienne’s speed makes him a lethal mismatch on third downs. Defensive coordinators will lose sleep trying to scheme against him and Alvin Kamara sharing the field.
“I grew up three hours from here. Stepping onto this turf wearing the black and gold? It’s a childhood dream realized. We have the pieces to win right now.”
— Travis Etienne, Saints Running Back
You can see the hunger in his eyes during press conferences. Etienne isn’t just cashing a check; he wants to bring a Lombardi back to his home state. Grade: A
If you want to win in January, you build from the inside out. The Saints inked former Bills and Rams guard David Edwards to a four-year contract worth up to $61 million. This is the heavy lifting New Orleans needed. Edwards allowed a staggeringly low 0.7% quick pressure rate in 2025, completely dominating the line of scrimmage.
New Orleans struggled to find consistent play at left guard for three straight seasons. Edwards erases that weakness. He flashes elite anchor strength in pass protection and physically moves massive defensive tackles off their spots in the run game. Pairing Edwards with young bookend tackles Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga transforms this offensive line into a brick wall.
Grade: A+
Kellen Moore loves a heavy tight end set. Signing Noah Fant to a two-year deal gives the Saints a supersized target who excels in traffic. The 28-year-old caught 34 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns during a chaotic season in Cincinnati last year. Now, he escapes the shadows of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Fant pairs perfectly with Juwan Johnson. Moore will deploy heavy two-tight-end formations, forcing linebackers to make impossible choices in coverage. Fant runs routes with the fluidity of a wide receiver but blocks with the violence of a fullback. Grade: B
Sometimes, you just need your guys. Kaden Elliss started his career in New Orleans, breaking out in 2022 before securing a massive payday in Atlanta. After three productive seasons with the rival Falcons—including a career-high 151 tackles in 2024—the veteran linebacker returns on a three-year, $33 million deal.
Elliss brings a nasty, downhill pass-rushing element from the off-ball linebacker spot. He tallied 64 total pressures over the last two years, leading all off-ball linebackers. The $33 million price tag feels slightly rich, but the familiarity and immediate schematic fit justify the cost. He slides right in next to Pete Werner. Grade: C+
The NFC South is wide open. These signings signal a clear directive: Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough are ready to strike. David Edwards ensures Shough stays upright, while Etienne and Fant provide high-upside safety valves. The Saints still hold the 8th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. If they add a premier wide receiver like Carnell Tate to complement Chris Olave, this offense will evolve into a juggernaut. Opposing defenses better buckle their chinstraps.
