Loomis plots Saints' course in offseason
 

Loomis plots Saints' course in offseason- NOLA.com

The Saints have 17 players set to become unrestricted free agents at the end of February, six of whom are starters (center Jeff Faine, guard Jamar Nesbit, receiver David Patten, tight end Eric Johnson, defensive tackle Brian Young and linebacker Mark Simoneau).

"I think that's pretty typical," Loomis said. "You know, there's some guys there we want to have back. And hopefully it will turn out in our favor. But from year to year, you're going to lose some guys now and then, and that's just part of this business."

-- Smith, Colston and Evans are arguably more crucial to the Saints' future than anyone in this year's free-agent crop. The Saints would like to lock up all three, both for their long-term security and to avoid contract holdouts this summer.

But none of them will come cheap.