Saints free agency guide: What’s the future for Michael Thomas, Andrus Peat and others?
Last year, the New Orleans Saints made a splash in free agency by signing Derek Carr to a four-year, $150 million deal.
Don’t expect the same type of thing to happen again this offseason.
New Orleans hasn’t created the salary-cap space to splurge in free agency as it did a year ago. Instead, when the legal tampering window opens Monday, the Saints will focus on their own players and free agents who aren’t likely to break the bank.
This year, the New Orleans Saints are poised to have more than 20 players become free agents. Here’s a look at who’s set to become free — unless they agree to new deals between now and Monday.
The headliners
Michael Thomas, wide receiver: OK, so technically, we’re bending the rules already as Thomas is under contract for next season. But Thomas and the Saints agreed to last year’s deal with the understanding that he’d likely become a free agent in 2024 — and nothing has changed on that front. At this point, it would be shocking if Thomas returned. For procedural purposes, expect the Saints to release Thomas before Friday, the third day of the new league year.
Andrus Peat, left tackle: The Saints got surprising play out of the nine-year veteran when they moved Peat to left tackle from guard this past season. That flexibility was key to shoring up Derek Carr’s blind side, but in the process, could cause Peat to head elsewhere next season. The Saints would like to re-sign Peat, though are waiting to see how his market develops.
New Orleans retained the 30-year-old on a pay cut that lowered his base salary to $1.5 million and gave him a $4 million roster bonus.
