Jack Gorman/UFL
By Ross Jackson
When it comes to roster building, the New Orleans Saints have traditionally never left a stone unturned. Like most teams, they build through free agency, the draft and at times trades. But they have also taken the roads less traveled at times.
New Orleans has been a consistent participant in the International Player Program, most recently signing Irish kicker Charlie Smyth in 2024. The kicker has returned in 2025.
But the Saints have also never shied away from searching the spring league player pool. That trend continued this offseason, as the Saints signed three UFL standouts.
Whether the UFL, USFL or XFL, the Saints have not been shy about nabbing talent from the ancillary professional leagues. While the team didn’t have any AAF signings, several Saints players like cornerback Damian Swann and running back Khiry Robinson tried their luck in the opposite direction.
Since 2020, the Saints have given at least 13 spring league players a chance to make their roster with more than a few landing on their practice squad.
2025 – Three Players From the UFL
- TE Seth Green – Arlington Renegade
- OL Barry Wesley – Birmingham Stallions
- CB Jayden Price – Arlington Renegade
2024 – One Player From the UFL
- WR Kevin Austin Jr. – Birmingham Stallions
2023 – Three Players From the XFL
- WR Jontre Kirklin – Houston Roughnecks
- DT Jack Heflin – Houston Roughnecks
- DE Niko Lalos – Seattle Seahawks Dragons
2022 – Three Players From the USFL
- QB KJ Costello – Philadelphia Stars
- CB Quenton Meeks – Tampa Bay Bandits
- CB Brian Allen – Birmingham Stallions
2020/2021 – One Player From the XFL
- WR Jake Lampman – Tampa Bay Vipers (Signed Dec. 2020, given Future/Reserve deal for 2021)
2020 – One Player From the XFL
- CB Deatrick Nichols – Houston Roughnecks
The practice of reaching into unique pools of talent isn’t new for the Saints. Former linebacker Adam Bighill and cornerback Delvin Breaux both signed by way of the Canadian Football League.
2016 NFL Draft selection and former defensive tackle David Onyemata was selected out of a Canadian school, the University of Manitoba.
Even in their undrafted free agent endeavors, they have taken players from small schools like Weber State and Assumption College and have previously invested in HBCU talent as well.
It isn’t new what the Saints are doing, but it is necessary to build the team the organization hopes to field in the next few years. Leave no stones unturned and seek talent in every nook and cranny available.
