Saints 2023 Free Agency Tracker

Here is the updated list on all the New Orleans Saints personnel moves. We'll continue updating this tracker throughout NFL free agency.

Author:
Bob Rose
Updated:
Apr 17, 2023 2:51 PM EDT
Original:
Mar 12, 2023

In this story:

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints have been a busy team since the start of the 2023 offseason. The Saints were involved in the biggest coaching news of the offseason when they traded former HC Sean Payton to the Denver Broncos. It was a move that netted them a 2023 first-round pick (29th overall) and a 2024 second-round choice.

New Orleans also added several assistant coaches to replace several losses on their own staff. Joe Woods (defensive coordinator), Marcus Robertson (defensive backs), Todd Grantham (defensive line), Clancy Barone (TE), Kevin Carberry (O-Line), and Adam Gristick (LB) join Dennis Allen's second-year staff.

The Saints also entered the offseason nearly $60 million over the estimated salary cap for 2023. Despite the thoughts (hopes?) of much of the national media, the team has not gutted it's roster, instead restructuring several veterans to create cap space.

Free agency began on March 15, but NFL teams started negotiations with pending free agents of other squads on Monday, March 13. New Orleans made one of the league's biggest splashes before free agency even started, inking QB Derek Carr to a four-year deal after his release from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Saints were also busy with their own in-house free agents, re-signing several before hitting the open market.

This is the 2023 Saints News Network free agency tracker for the New Orleans Saints. Be sure to stay tuned here for all the team’s personnel updates throughout the signing period.

Dennis Allen and Derek Carr — Mar 11, 2023; New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen, chief executive officer Gayle Benson, and quarterback Derek Carr pose at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2023; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen and chief executive officer Gayle Benson and quarterback Derek Carr pose at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

SIGNED

• Derek Carr, QB (4yrs./$150 million)

• Ugo Amadi, S (1 yr./ $1 million)

• Nathan Shepherd, DT (3yrs./$15 million)

• Khalen Saunders, DT (3yrs./$14.5 million)

• Jamaal Williams, RB (3yrs./$12 million)

• Ty Summers, LB

• Storm Norton, OT

• Lonnie Johnson, S

• Johnathan Abram, S

• Bryan Edwards, WR

RE-SIGNED (In-House)

• Keith Kirkwood, WR

• Calvin Throckmorton, G (1 yr./$940k)

• Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE (2 yrs./$6 million)

• J.T. Gray, S (3yrs./$9.6 million)

• Juwan Johnson, TE (2yrs./$12 million)

• Jameis Winston, QB (1yr./$8 million)

• Michael Thomas, WR (1yr./$10 million)

• Malcolm Roach, DT

• Isaac Yiadom, CB

• Andrew Dowell, LB

RESTRUCTURED/REWORKED

• Marcus Maye, S

• Erik McCoy, C

• Ryan Ramczyk, T

• Wil Lutz, K

• Tyrann Mathieu, S

• Demario Davis, LB

• Taysom Hill, QB/TE

• Cam Jordan, DE

• Alvin Kamara, RB

• Marshon Lattimore, CB

• Andrus Peat, G

LOST

• David Onyemata, DT (signed with Falcons)

• Shy Tuttle, DT (signed with Panthers)

• Kaden Elliss, LB (signed with Falcons)

• Marcus Davenport, DE (signed with Vikings)

• Andy Dalton, QB (signed with Panthers)

• Deonte Harty, WR (signed with Bills)

• Justin Evans, S (signed with Eagles)

• Marquez Callaway, WR (signed with Broncos)

• Kentavius Street, DT (signed with Eagles)

• Ethan Greenidge, OT (signed with Falcons)

Obviously the biggest news is Carr, the nine-year veteran who was originally drafted by then-coach Dennis Allen with the Oakland Raiders in 2014. Carr will be the team’s quarterback of the immediate future and takes care of the franchise's biggest offseason need.

Re-signing TE Juwan Johnson was also a top priority. Johnson was a restricted free agent, but inking him to an extension removed even the slim risk of losing him. Extending Kpassagnon is also an underrated move, keeping one of the key pieces of their defensive line.

Equally large is the reworking of WR Michael Thomas' contract. They were able to avoid paying him the $31 million roster bonus due on March 17, instead agreeing to a one-year deal at a relative bargain at $10 million, with another $5 in potential incentives.

Yes, Thomas has missed 40 of the last 50 games, but is still one of the league's best when in the lineup. Keeping him gives Carr a reliable and physical intermediate weapon while eliminating a big need.

New Orleans has done tremendous work just to get under the salary cap. Now that they have, expect them to be very strategic with their free agency spending.

After losing two defensive tackles, Onyemata and Tuttle, to division rivals, the Saints moved quickly to fill their spots. New Orleans inked big-bodied DTs Nathan Shepherd (Jets) and Khalen Saunders (Chiefs) on the first official day of free agency. They later re-signed Roach for depth, but lost Street to Philadelphia.

Another huge area of need was checked off by the signing of Williams. Coming off a career-best 1,000-yard campaign with the Lions, Williams provides a much-needed complementary threat to Alvin Kamara in the backfield.

Remember to stay tuned to the Saints News Network. We'll update this article as personnel moves are made and keep you up to date on all New Orleans Saints news.