The Saints took a major, but calculated, risk during this off-season
The New Orleans Saints have a distinct past of grabbing impact undrafted free agents on an annual basis. Last season, Rashid Shaheed took that role for the Saints. He was an electric addition on offense and special teams. This year, they are investing in their UDFA class heavily again. They believe in their process when […]
The New Orleans Saints have a distinct past of grabbing impact undrafted free agents on an annual basis. Last season, Rashid Shaheed took that role for the Saints. He was an electric addition on offense and special teams. This year, they are investing in their UDFA class heavily again.
They believe in their process when it comes to analyzing the talent they get right after the draft. After the 2023 draft, they made a massive risk. They guaranteed the fourth-most money for their UDFA class in 2023.
Of course, the Saints sat in the top fifteen of cap space before signing the UDFA class or any of their draft picks. It made plenty of sense for them to guarantee more than many other squads in order to lock down the undrafted talent they preferred.
Mickey Loomis and co. have mentioned that the UDFA process has always been valuable for New Orleans. Often, they will trade up out of the sixth or seventh round to grab a target in the fourth or fifth round. That's because they have strong feelings that the players that they prefer late in the draft have a good shot at being available in undrafted free agency.
Their intel is impressive. The risk is worth it for the Saints on an annual basis.
