WhoDat!656

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

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

Luda34

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

WhoDat!656

Ever heard of this guy?

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

nycsaintfan

Seymour or Hampton would really help in a rotation.

mutineer10

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

FinSaint

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.

hagan714

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

neugey

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

Danno

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?

K Major

+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.