NFL Free Agency Preview 2012: New Orleans Saints

The Saints, just like every team in the NFL, they will look into free agency for players to help fill the voids left by their own players whom they cannot re-sign, or are either outbid for by rival teams.

Their “big three” free agents — consisting of quarterback Drew Brees, guard Carl Nicks, and wide receiver Marques Colston are currently top priority for the team.

No one expects Brees and the Saints not to get a new deal in places to keep him in New Orleans for the rest of his career, but things get a little murky for Nicks and Colston.

Commonly it’s believed the Saints will try and re-sign Nicks — the best guard in the league — to keep their award winning offensive line intact for the foreseeable future.

That leaves Colston as the odd man out in the equation, and he is likely to take his game onto the free agent market where his services will likely go to the highest bidder.

At that time the Saints may not have a choice as to whether or not they re-sign receiver Robert Meachem, also scheduled to become a free agent.

While Meachem has not had the production that Colston has, he is a viable depth threat and likely could put up career numbers if given increased targets.

Some key veterans could be in danger of being cut in consideration to the cap and their respective base salaries in 2012.

Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who missed five games last season with a knee injury, is beginning to slow and is scheduled to make a base $5.4 million salary in 2012.

Given that New Orleans seems to have his cheaper replacement already on the roster in Jo-Lonn Dunbar, the writing is on the wall.

Defensive end Will Smith has long carried to title if the teams best defensive player, and at times he has showed it, as such with his 13 sack season in 2009.

But since his he has been widely inconsistent, posting only twelve combined sacks the last two years.

The Saints defensive struggles are legendary, and Smith for all the skills he brings to the table, has not helped the Saints pass rush or run defense much in the last four years.
At a whopping $7 million for his services in 2012 (+ $1 million roster bonus) he is a prime candidate for release as the Saints look to recoup some cash to distribute elsewhere.

New Orleans though has two young talents stashed on the roster that could be the answer to fill Smith’s shoes — Junior Galette and Greg Romeus.

Galette was an un-drafted rookie out of Stillman college that has developed into one of the teams more potent pass rushers the last two seasons.

Romeus was a seventh round draft pick out of the University of Pittsburgh in 2011 after injuries zapped his draft stock dramatically.

Prior to getting injured he was in the conversations as a potential fist round pick, and he could be just the weapon the Saints have been looking for to bolster the pass rush.

Assuming one, or all, of these players do no return to the team New Orleans will have a bevy of needs that they might look to fill through free agency.

 Linebacker
 Defensive Line
 Wide Receiver
 Cornerback
 Safety

Here is a complete list of all the Saints potential free agents in 2012:

QB Drew Brees UFA
QB Sean Canfield, Re-signed
QB Chase Daniel RFA
WR Marques Colston UFA
WR Robert Meachem UFA
TE Daniel Hardy, Signed with Vikings
OG Carl Nicks UFA
OL Justin Drescher RFA
DL Alex Brown UFA
DL Aubrayo Franklin UFA
DL Shaun Rogers UFA
LB Jonathan Casillas RFA
CB Tracy Porter UFA
CB Fabian Washington UFA

Last season the Saints signed run stuffing defensive tackles Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin to help improve run defense.

It helped, as the Saints went from 17th against the run in 2010 to 12th in 2011. However, neither got much push in the middle of the defensive line when rushing the quarterback.

Rogers will not be back in 2012, not for the type of money he is likely wanting. Last season New Orleans paid him $4.5 million for one season — not to be repeated.

The Saints however certainly want to retain Franklin to pair alongside Sedrick Ellis, and if the price is right I would expect he stays in New Orleans for one or two more years.

Linebacker Jonathan Casillas also should return to the teams as he has the ability to start at weak side linebacker in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.

He’s a quick, athletic linebacker that if can stay healthy can become a real playmaker.

Corner Tracy Porter was overtaken as the starter by Patrick Robinson last year after being relegated to nickel corner duty by then defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Porter has some value as cover man, but needs serious improvement when it comes to tackling and read/react instincts when playing the run.

He is surely looking to get paid as a starter, but I just don’t see the Saints giving him that type of money with the idea he will not see the field as much as Robinson or Jabari Greer.

For that reason the Saints may let him test free agency to set his market value, but as is the case often in today’s pass heavy NFL, a corner starved team will likely make him an offer he cannot refuse.

Preview by Keith Null of Who Dat Dish. For more in depth Saints free agency coverage, visit whodatdish.com!