Free agency has recently been a time of dread for New Orleans Saints fans, but 2017 is shaping up differently. The Saints are out of “salary cap hell” and poised to make a splash with nearly $30-million in cap space. Beyond defensive tackle Nick Fairley (722 snaps played in 2016), cornerback Sterling Moore (805), and guard Jahri Evans (1140), they don’t have many of their own free agents to retain. The Saints should be able to look for upgrades outside their building with confidence.
However, a handful of teams should directly compete with the Saints for attention from highly sought-after free agent signings.