Star defensive end could find next home with Saints in free agency

The New Orleans Saints have quite a few needs heading into the 2023 offseason. Unfortunately for them, filling them will be a challenge given their current salary-cap situation. Only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently more over the cap than New Orleans, who presently sit nearly $31 million over.

Finding a starting quarterback for the 2023 season is the first order of business for the Saints. Andy Dalton is a free agent and Jameis Winston will almost assuredly join him as a cap casualty.

After that, addressing the pass-rushing on defense could be the next order of business. Marcus Davenport and Kaden Elliss are both hitting free agency. The team re-signed Tanoh Kpassagnon, which is an okay start, but more help is needed. Kpassagnon had only 2.0 sacks in 15 appearances last season, while Davenport had 0.5 and Elliss was second on the team with 7.0.

Strapped for cash, the Saints are going to have to get creative to open up space to address their pass-rushing needs. Over at CBS Sports, they are predicting New Orleans to not only do that but land one of the top pass rushers available this offseason in Yannick Ngakoue.

Ngakoue has become well-traveled in the last three seasons in the NFL. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings. Halfway through his first season there, he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens.

In free agency following the 2020 season, he signed a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. He lasted one season there before being traded to the Indianapolis Colts. Now, here we are, with Ngakoue likely on the move again.

He would be a nice upgrade for the Saints as a true pass-rushing threat. He has recorded at least 8.0 sacks in every season of his career as he can penetrate and create some plays in the backfield. In addition to the sacks, he has had at least six tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hits in every season of his career as well.

The Saints had a good pass rush last season, racking up 48 sacks. But, their salary cap situation could lead to multiple players being moved on from or traded away to get cap-compliant. Ngakoue would be a nice replacement as a Pro Bowl-level pass rusher.