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During the 2025 season, the New Orleans Saints had 44 sacks, seventh most in the NFL. Their edge rushers were responsible for 31.5 of those sacks, with 20.5 coming from Cameron Jordan and Chase Young. Young, at just 26, played the best football of his career. In his 15th season, Jordan revived a Hall of Fame career after a couple down years in production.
Jordan, who turns 37 in July, will hit the open free agent market for the first time. While many feel the Saints could still get him back, getting a younger edge rusher to pair with Young is still an offseason need. Most feel that New Orleans will do this through the draft, but there are several talented edge rushers that will be avaliable in free agency. This becomes a bigger need if Jordan does depart, with the Saints then potentially looking to pivot to one of these targets.
Former Saint Trey Hendrickson is also a free agent, but he'll command an astronomical salary and isn't a great fit for Brandon Staley's scheme. Oweh is also expected to draw a big multi-year deal because of his age and potential, albeit inconsistent career production. Another former Saint, Al-Quadin Muhammad, is coming off career-best numbers in Detroit. Like Hendrickson, both 2017 New Orleans draft choices, Muhammad is more of a traditional defensive end in a four-man front and may not fit as an every down stand-up rusher.
Omenihu and Paye fit that same kind of athletic profile. However, consider that those same concerns were present with Cam Jordan going into 2025. The Saints may still take a strong push to land Muhammad, Paye, or Omenihu if losing Jordan. A Hendrickson reunion still seems unlikely because of the finances.
Chaisson, Reddick, Ojulari, Ebikete, and Phillips all fit the athletic profile of a stand-up edge rusher. A former LSU star, Chaisson finally had a breakout year with 7.5 sacks and 18 QB hits, nearly equaling his previous five-year totals. It likely earns him a big payday. Reddick also won't come cheap, but his is more because of career production. However, he might be able to be signed to a fairly reasonable one-year deal to revive his career after poor production last season in Tampa Bay.
Phillips is another potential one-year contract at a fairly reasonable price. Like Chaisson and Chase Young, Phillips is a former first round choice who has yet to live up to his potential. After seeing what Young accomplished in Brandon Staley's scheme, Phillips may see that same possibility for himself.
Ojulari and Ebikete could be under-the-radar targets for a defense. Ojulari was an underrated playmaker for the Giants along the edge before injuries slowed him immensely last year with Philadelphia. Ebikete has always made plays as a rotational player in Atlanta and brings some added versatility in coverage or inside linebacker.
Chase Young needs a running mate. Carl Granderson has been a decent rotational player but hasn't shown he can be consistently productive. A Jordan return checks off the immediate need, but doesn't change the fact that the Saints will need someone as an eventual replacement. It's most likely to come through the draft, as early as their eighth overall choice or sometime in Day 2.
Jordan leaving increases the immediate need. It could still be filled through the draft, but also could make the Saints pursue an Odafe, Chaisson, even take a swing for Hendrickson or bank on a revival from Reddick. The most likely scenario, whether or not Jordan returns, is that New Orleans looks for an edge rusher in the draft. Don't be surprised if they also target someone like Ebikete, Phillips, or Ojulari, players that may come somewhat cheaply and add quality youth to the rotation.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL free agency preview: Possible Saints edge rusher targets
Continue reading...
Jordan, who turns 37 in July, will hit the open free agent market for the first time. While many feel the Saints could still get him back, getting a younger edge rusher to pair with Young is still an offseason need. Most feel that New Orleans will do this through the draft, but there are several talented edge rushers that will be avaliable in free agency. This becomes a bigger need if Jordan does depart, with the Saints then potentially looking to pivot to one of these targets.
Edge rusher free agents
- Odafe Oweh (age 27)
- K'Lavon Chaisson (27)
- Azeez Ojulari (26)
- Arnold Ebikete (27)
- Al-Quadin Muhammad (31)
- Kwity Paye (27)
- Jaelen Phillips (26)
- Haason Reddick (31)
- Charles Omenihu (28)
Former Saint Trey Hendrickson is also a free agent, but he'll command an astronomical salary and isn't a great fit for Brandon Staley's scheme. Oweh is also expected to draw a big multi-year deal because of his age and potential, albeit inconsistent career production. Another former Saint, Al-Quadin Muhammad, is coming off career-best numbers in Detroit. Like Hendrickson, both 2017 New Orleans draft choices, Muhammad is more of a traditional defensive end in a four-man front and may not fit as an every down stand-up rusher.
Omenihu and Paye fit that same kind of athletic profile. However, consider that those same concerns were present with Cam Jordan going into 2025. The Saints may still take a strong push to land Muhammad, Paye, or Omenihu if losing Jordan. A Hendrickson reunion still seems unlikely because of the finances.
Chaisson, Reddick, Ojulari, Ebikete, and Phillips all fit the athletic profile of a stand-up edge rusher. A former LSU star, Chaisson finally had a breakout year with 7.5 sacks and 18 QB hits, nearly equaling his previous five-year totals. It likely earns him a big payday. Reddick also won't come cheap, but his is more because of career production. However, he might be able to be signed to a fairly reasonable one-year deal to revive his career after poor production last season in Tampa Bay.
Phillips is another potential one-year contract at a fairly reasonable price. Like Chaisson and Chase Young, Phillips is a former first round choice who has yet to live up to his potential. After seeing what Young accomplished in Brandon Staley's scheme, Phillips may see that same possibility for himself.
Ojulari and Ebikete could be under-the-radar targets for a defense. Ojulari was an underrated playmaker for the Giants along the edge before injuries slowed him immensely last year with Philadelphia. Ebikete has always made plays as a rotational player in Atlanta and brings some added versatility in coverage or inside linebacker.
Saints' outlook in free agency
Chase Young needs a running mate. Carl Granderson has been a decent rotational player but hasn't shown he can be consistently productive. A Jordan return checks off the immediate need, but doesn't change the fact that the Saints will need someone as an eventual replacement. It's most likely to come through the draft, as early as their eighth overall choice or sometime in Day 2.
Jordan leaving increases the immediate need. It could still be filled through the draft, but also could make the Saints pursue an Odafe, Chaisson, even take a swing for Hendrickson or bank on a revival from Reddick. The most likely scenario, whether or not Jordan returns, is that New Orleans looks for an edge rusher in the draft. Don't be surprised if they also target someone like Ebikete, Phillips, or Ojulari, players that may come somewhat cheaply and add quality youth to the rotation.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL free agency preview: Possible Saints edge rusher targets
Continue reading...
