Why would we resign him or Franklin, there was absolutely NO penetration up the middle at all last year.

Surely there's a rookie or UDFA out there that can do it cheaper. Then we use that money to help fix our defense. Give a big fat guy the league minimum and then go get another one for the rotation. We're still saving money and can afford to upgrade the LB'ers in free agency.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I wouldn't mind it if they re-signed Franklin to be a run-stuffing DT, because he does that job well. Also, he is the younger of the two, and to me he seemed to be more motivated in playing "within the system" than Rogers did. Of course, re-signing him would have to be paired with the Saints either having a more pass rushing DT in the rotation for subbing Franklin out when the situation requires it or to pair him with a predominantly pass rushing DT (i.e. not Ellis).

Franklin had a $4M salary last season (base: $1.25M + signing bonus: $2.75M), which was the best deal he could find in the FA market - actually the only other offer he received except for returning to SF. Therefore, after the average season he had with the Saints, he might be willing to re-sign for less money because of the low demand for his services.

And yes I did say "average" season, because he is not a pass rushing DL, and if the Saints picked him up to be one - they didn't do their homework. He was very good in SF being the NT in a 3-4 base system where his main job was to stuff the middle, so that the great OLBs of SF could focus their attention on the outside threats and the pass rush.

He was much better in the 3-4 base, and that is why I think that if he does receive offers - they'll probably be from teams running the 3-4 defense and looking for a stout NT to anchor their D-line.