Saints’ UDFA Alan Herron’s promising potential earned expensive investment

By Ross Jackson

One of the most intriguing New Orleans Saints undrafted free agents is a late-starter to the game of American Football with tools and traits that suggest real developmental upside. Maryland offensive lineman Alan Herron made waves as an undrafted signing because of the payday that accompanied it, but it’s the future potential and likely courtship by other teams that made the contract level not just a necessity, but a worthwhile investment.

The Saints gave the 23-year-old lineman a $272,500 guarantee on his contract, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. That’s a good amount of money for a UDFA and signals the Saints’ trust in his possibilities at the next level despite being relatively new to the game.

Herron started his football playing days as a senior in high school after trying out and making the team at the request of his teacher and football coach. The Westmoreland, Jamaica native otherwise played a variety of sports including baseball and cricket. But his size, now 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds, led him to the gridiron.

After just one season of high school football, Herron attended Shorter University in Georgia for two years where he started all 22 of his game appearances, mostly at right tackle. He would then transfer to Maryland, starting another 24 consecutive matchups, all at right tackle, putting together an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten season in 2025.

Per Pro Football Focus, during his final season at Maryland, he allowed just three sacks and committed two penalties while taking 521 pass-blocking snaps. 

Maryland OL Alan Herron does a great job of riding his man outside on this rep pic.twitter.com/Adiv6mL2sz

— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) January 28, 2026

He impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 5.09-second 40-yard dash and logging a 32-inch vertical leap at his size. He then added 23 bench reps at his Pro Day. The Saints did a ton of homework on Herron, getting a close look at him during the Senior Bowl and hosting him for a top-30 visit in New Orleans during the pre-draft process.

What he lacks in polish, he easily makes up for with promise. He’s a well-built, durable and quick player with good extension and reach. Now, he enters a situation with a lot of production and experience ahead of him on the roster, giving him time to comfortably work at his development. 

Not only do the Saints have their starting five offensive linemen in place, there’s solid and reliable depth with recent investments in re-signing veteran guard Dillon Radunz and drafting Auburn lineman Jeremiah Wright. The team will also still have valued depth players like William Sherman, Asim Richards and Torricelli Simpkins III to continue to lean on as well.

Building up Herron’s balance, endurance and exposure to the game will be paramount to his growth. But should the Saints get his potential out of him, he could turn into a rostered player quickly during his initial contract.

Herron has experience exclusively at tackle, but does have the build for the interior. It will be interesting to see where the Saints put him to work. There are astute arguments to be made in favor of either role. He’s young and inexperienced, so keeping him at the position to which he’s grown accustomed makes sense. But also, giving him as many available paths to the roster could be helpful as well.