By Ross Jackson
After embracing the compensatory pick process for a few years, the New Orleans Saints are not letting the potential of additional draft selections stop them from making much-needed additions in free agency.
Every year, teams are awarded compensatory picks in the NFL Draft based on their losses and gains from the previous free agency period.
For instance, in 2026, New Orleans was awarded a fourth-round comp pick tied to the departure of former cornerback Paulson Adebo in 2023 free agency.
However, what a team loses in talent isn’t the only factor in the compensatory pick formula. It also takes into account the talent you gain and the contracts you give.
Looking ahead to 2027, the Saints are nowhere near close to landing comp picks due to their aggressive approach to the open market.
And that’s a good thing.
It shows that New Orleans has identified holes in its roster and specifically targeted players with veteran experience to help address those needs. It also shows that the Saints had the salary cap freedom to get those signings done.
Finally, it establishes that the Saints have something desirable to veteran players looking to win. The gravity of an improving club and young quarterback is working.
Over The Cap has a great job tracking additions and departures while forecasting what that means for a club from the compensatory pick perspective.
While New Orleans lost two qualifying players to new teams, cornerback Alontae Taylor to the Tennessee Titans and linebacker Demario Davis to the New York Jets, the Saints’ additions outnumber the losses.
The Saints signed qualifying free agents like running back Travis Etienne Jr., left guard David Edwards, linebacker Kaden Elliss, tight end Noah Fant and punter Ryan Wright.
With that, the team is not in line to gain any comp picks in the 2027 NFL Draft. But it’s hard to believe that the team feels any concern about that. Especially considering their fruitful and aggressive free agency action.
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