A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

There's undoubtedly a theme hovering over many of the top defensive free agents left on the market. They're veterans who used to receive plenty of cash from their former teams and won't at this point in free agency.

The New Orleans Saints have already beefed up their defense with younger players like cornerback Keenan Lewis and linebacker Victor Butler, while also adding veteran defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman. The Saints also re-signed numerous players and added tight end Benjamin Watson and quarterback Luke McCown on offense.

The team is nearly out of money now considering it has to set aside cap space for restricted free agents like running back Chris Ivory and center Brian de la Puente and their upcoming 2013 draft class. So spending any significant money on any free agent remaining on the market wouldn't be an option for the Saints.

One thing in the Saints' favor, though, is that no one else is spending major dollars on any free agents left on the market anyway. If the Saints wanted gather up any remaining quarters from the couch cushions and continue shopping, here are some options available for positions the Saints may still want to improve:

Tackle Jared Gaither (6-9, 335) - The 27-year-old left tackle became a salary-cap casualty in San Diego last week and is probably the best left tackle on the market in a major position of need for the Saints. But something could be fishy on Gaither's end after being cut just one year after receiving a four-year, $24.6 million contract before the 2012 season.

Tackle Max Starks (6-8, 345) - You're starting to see a theme here with tackles as it's the primary position the Saints want to target at this point in free agency. The 31-year-old Starks doesn't appear to be re-signing with Pittsburgh.

Tackle Tyson Clabo (6-6, 329) - Teams reportedly are already after the recently released Falcons tackle with Dallas and Jacksonville interested in Clabo. The 31-year-old is more known for being a right tackle, but could be an option if the price is low for the tackle-troubled Saints. You can throw Eric Winston in the same boat as Clabo at this point.

Defensive ends Dwight Freeney (6-1, 268) and John Abraham (6-4, 263) - Remember when these two players were hot names on the market? Well the market has cooled off for these two once premier pass rushers.

The 33-year-old Freeney wouldn't seem like a good fit in New Orleans and could easily still end up in Denver with Peyton Manning. A source said before free agency opened that the Saints would ponder the nearly 35-year-old Abraham once the market cooled off, and it has.

Defensive lineman Richard Seymour (6-6, 317) - The 33-year-old has been successful in 4-3 and 3-4 defensive scheme. So versatility isn't an issue for Seymour. The Raiders cut ties with Seymour thanks to a hefty salary. Would the Saints like to have him? Probably so. It comes back to the cost.

Defensive tackle Casey Hampton (6-1, 325) - If the Saints are looking for a short-term fix at nose tackle, they could do worse than Hampton despite his age (36 in September). The five-time Pro Bowler knows the 3-4 defense, but obviously the Saints would only be looking for a one-year deal type of contract if there was any interest.

Cornerback Antoine Winfield (5-9, 180) - Winfield's agent said right after the Vikings cut the former All-Pro cornerback that he thought the Saints would be a good fit for Winfield. The Redskins are reportedly in the market for Winfield. The Saints flirted with veteran cornerbacks like Nnamdi Asomugha and Tracy Porter already.

Defensive back Charles Woodson (6-1, 202) - Thanks to the success of Darren Sharper, there always will be a fascination with bringing in a veteran with a slew of accolades for one last shot at a championship. For the Saints, the difference with Sharper and Woodson is that the Saints had an opening in 2009 at free safety. The Saints, for now, don't feel like there is an opening at safety.

A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder | NOLA.com

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

I keep forgetting that we don't have a damn center right now.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Ever heard of this guy?

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team...e-78f623ea0125

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Seymour or Hampton would really help in a rotation.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Well Saints, this is what happens when you get married. You no longer have money for anything else!

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Hampton might be helpful in the NT rotation even if they draft a rookie NT this year - anything to free Hicks from that NT rotation.

Woodson is always another intriguing candidate who could potentially be a Sharper-esque short-term value player.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

hell sign any of the NT that will play for cheap and want a ring. hell sign them all if you can

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Get Winfield, he can teach our entire team how to tackle.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

I was shocked to discover that the O-Lineman who graded the best for us according to PFF was... Brian de la Puente? Yep.

Granted, it helps when you have two all-pro guards next to you, but I was still surprised.

We re-signed DLP for at least 1 more season. But he's an UFA next year.

I wouldn't be surprised if we drafted a OC this year, perhaps Barret Jones with our 2nd pick?

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

+1. I would be very interested in Woodson for at least a 1 year deal. I'm not very confident of what we have now at the SS/FS spot and something tells me that Harper will be gone by June 1st.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Is DLP not serviceable enough?

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Apparently enough for 1 year.

My guess is that he'll audition for a long term contract this season.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Wasn't Barret Jones named the best center in his division/conference or something to that nature?

He would be a nice addition to the O-line rotation along with Faulk - if the Saints could find a way to get both of those guys.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

WE NEED a NT, SS like Charles Woodson
I know we will draft a olb, dt, cb, and lt but we also need to make a few trades like involving Roman Harper or one of our many RBs or schemed out LBs.Yeup we are sitting prettier than most! So all the fuss is for idiots who are ignorant! MY ONLY CONCERN IS SAFETY AND REALLY BACKUP QB I'm not as much on McCown I would rather draft a qb late or like Jordan Rogers or Colby Cameron or even Sean Renfree! Plenty of developmental young QBs!!

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

We would have to trade up a bit to land Jones, then grab Faulk in the 4th/5th?

I'd love it but you'll have a bunch of people screaming bloody murder that we didn't spend every pick on defense.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Yeah, I imagine it would take a 2nd rounder to pick up Barrett Jones, and that's why the trade down would be very profitable in more ways than one with the spread out talent in this year's draft.

Best scenario would probably be something like trading back in the first to the mid 20s and gaining a 2nd in the process and then trading back again out of the 1st to gain an early 2nd rounder and a 3rd. I think the Patriots succeeded in something to that nature in 2011, and while it's difficult, it would certainly be magnificent if Loomis and Co managed to pull off something like that.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

People always scream bloody murder anyway... In Loomie and SP we trust.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

The team is nearly out of money now considering it has to set aside cap space for restricted free agents like running back Chris Ivory and center Brian de la Puente and their upcoming 2013 draft class. So spending any significant money on any free agent remaining on the market wouldn't be an option for the Saints.


If the team is out of money how can signing anyone happen? Seriously, I don't understand how the CAP works at all.:confused:

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Restructure or cut some players. Harper is a 3.5 million savings if cut. There are probably 3 or 4 more Mickey has in mind in order to free up some more room.

Jenkins is a 2.5 million savings.
PT is 2.5 million

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Hmmm... I was under the impression that at the moment the Saints were about $2.5M under the cap with all of the offseason signings accounted for, including the tendered FAs.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Woodson in real black and gold would be nice.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

Let them.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

I've never been able to stop them before.

Re: A look at free-agent leftovers New Orleans Saints could ponder
 

+1.