By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints completely revamped their free agency approach in 2026, making big moves early as the negotiating period kicked off. By doing so, they told the NFL world three important things.
- That the confidence in quarterback Tyler Shough isn’t just talk.
- That they recognized and wanted to tend to needs.
- That the team intends to compete in 2026.
On the first day of free agency, the Saints made five moves that added or solidified talent on their roster. After extending defensive tackle John Ridgeway III, the Saints signed running back Travis Etienne, guard David Edwards, tight end Noah Fant and punter Ryan Wright.
Each of the signings goes back to one of the three statements the Saints were making about themselves going into the year.
After a strong close to the season, the Saints are trying to build quickly to take a run at the NFC South division.
The signings of Etienne, Edwards and Fant signal an intent to build around their young quarterback. These signings do so by providing protection and weapons as well as revitalizing a poorly-executed 2025 run game that can now take pressure off of the young passer.
Those signings, along with Wright, showcase that New Orleans identified deficiencies in 2025 and wasted no time addressing them. The Saints’ run game couldn’t get off the ground last year, the punting game became a liability as it struggled to fill the field, and the Saints surrendered the fourth-most quick pressures (within 2.5 seconds) on the offensive line across the league, per Next Gen Stats.
David Edwards allowed just four quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds) in 2025 for a 0.7% quick pressure rate, the 3rd-lowest among left guards with 300+ pass blocks.
All-Pros Joe Thuney and Quenton Nelson were the only left guards to allow lower marks.@Saints | #Saints https://t.co/VRSzcxuN5h pic.twitter.com/cV9G2Kig3R
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 9, 2026
Each signing helps to flip the script on some of the team’s recent struggles.
Finally, it’s clear that New Orleans intends to compete in 2026. This is a team that’s now marching into its new era and not wasting time. The Saints have the advantage of three more seasons with a starting quarterback on a second-round rookie contract.
That allows them to do things like sign a veteran punter like Wright, rather than relying on the undrafted pool.
And make him the fourth-highest paid punter in the league in the process.
New Orleans has shifted several strategies this offseason and it’s sure to create some excitement and anticipation around the team going into 2026.
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