Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Top Remaining Free Agents Linked to the New Orleans Saints
Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

The New Orleans Saints are likely not done with free agency just yet.

The Saints have been linked to many big-name free agents throughout the offseason. While the team is leaning towards reserving most of its cap space to help them get out of the red for 2026, some free agents remain that the team could bring in on team-friendly deals.

WR Gabe Davis

The Saints met with former Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis during minicamp. Davis was released from the Jaguars just one season into his three-year $39 million contract. 

New Orleans has been adamant about wanting to add to their receiver room and Davis fits the mold of the player the team is looking to add. At 6-foot-2, the former Bills standout has the ideal size and length the Saints are looking to add. Davis also combines impressive stature with sneaky athleticism that makes him an underrated deep threat. 

The Saints aren't the only team in the market for Davis with the Pittsburgh Steelers also bringing the $39 million receiver in for a visit. However, Davis isn't expected to sign for a large amount as he is set to make $12 million in 2025. If New Orleans wants to add to the former standout wide receiver, it will likely not cost them the bulk of their estimated $30 million cap space. 

CB Asante Samuel Jr.

The Saints haven't been shy about their eagerness to add to their cornerback room. Despite having standout second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor, there remains a concern about the consistency in their secondary. 

New Orleans went after cornerback Chavarius Ward hard during free agency before he signed with the Indianapolis Colts and had to settle for former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Isaac Yiadom. The team was not satisfied yet, however, and drafted Quincy Riley in the fourth round and brought Samuel Jr. in for a visit shortly after.

The meeting between the Saints and Samuel reportedly went well and now the team is waiting for a check-up for the 25-year-old cornerback scheduled for early July for a report on his health. Pending the results, expect the team to be suitors for the former Los Angeles Chargers standout cornerback.

Jaire Alexander

Despite no indication the Saints are yet interested in former Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, the team very well may be suitors. 

Similarly to the Asante Samuel Jr. situation, the team feels the need to add a cornerback to the room. With Alexander set to make $17 million due to his Packers contract, the former All-Pro can be a veteran target for the Saints.

New Orleans is concerned with the consistency in their secondary and there aren't many more sure-fire cornerbacks in the league outside of Alexander. While there is an injury concern, adding a veteran presence to their young cornerback room can prove to be a vital part of the team's defense going forward. 

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Raiders Pushed to Sign Ex-Cowboy, Pro Bowler as Christian Wilkins Replacement
NFL

Raiders Pushed to Sign Ex-Cowboy, Pro Bowler as Christian Wilkins Replacement

Training camp has started for the Las Vegas Raiders, and Christian Wilkins still isn't on the practice field. He hurt his foot in Week 5 of last season and continues to be in recovery. Head coach Pete Carroll didn't exactly instill confidence when he revealed that there's still no timeline for his return. “It’s still uncertain,” Carroll said during his Tuesday press conference. “We sort of have to wait it out.” Wilkins appears to be out of the boot, so that's a good sign, but there's been no clarity on when he might be able to get back on the field. With that in mind, the Raiders might want to consider adding more defensive line help. Linval Joseph Could Be Fit for Raiders At this stage of the offseason, there aren't going to be great options in free agency, but the Raiders could find a dependable veteran. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes Las Vegas should target free agent defensive tackle Linval Joseph. "Joseph finished his 2024 campaign with two sacks, two tackles for loss and 19 total tackles," Knox wrote. "He'd be a solid addition for any team needing depth along the defensive interior, and there are a couple. "The Las Vegas Raiders may need another defensive tackle, as Christian Wilkins still hasn't fully recovered from last year's second-ending foot injury." Joseph spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys and had 2.0 sacks. He's 36 now, but was able to play in all 17 games in 2024. He also went to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2016 and 2017 when he was with the Minnesota Vikings.

Fabrizio Romano Drops Huge €25M Update on Sunderland Transfer Target
Soccer

Fabrizio Romano Drops Huge €25M Update on Sunderland Transfer Target

Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Sporting CP have agreed the signing of Almeria striker Luis Suarez, who was a transfer target for Sunderland. The journalist explained that the Portuguese club will pay €25m for the 27-year-old Colombian forward, and Almeria will keep a 10% sell-on clause. This way, Sunderland misses out on another of their market targets to strengthen their attack, so they will have to look for other alternatives. This operation is a consequence of a 'domino effect', generated by the almost official, according to Romano, purchase of Viktor Gyokeres (27) by Arsenal. Fabrizio Romano drops huge €25m update on Sunderland transfer target "Sporting CP have agreed deal to sign Luis Javier Suarez from Almeria, here we go!," Romano began writing. "Deal confirmed as exclusively revealed in June. €25m fee package plus 10% sell-on clause," added the journalist, through his Twitter (X) account. This isn't the only complication for Regis Le Bris' team in this transfer window, as another attacking target, Gonzalo Garcia (21), appears to be finally extending his contract with Real Madrid, according to AS reports. "Now Gonzalo threatens Endrick's status and is negotiating a professional contract with Madrid," they explained in the cited outlet, after the mentioned 18-year-old Brazilian forward got injured again. Additionally, the failed signing of Sassuolo's Armand Lauriente (26) also joins the list of 'failures' by the Lads board this summer, specifically in their objective to strengthen the attack. Therefore, we cannot rule out that in the coming days, new rumors will emerge linking other offensive players with Sunderland, because it's clear that Le Bris wants to add talent in that area. Other forwards previously linked with the Black Cats are Nantes' Matthis Abline (22) and OGC Nice's Evann Guessand (24), although there haven't been recent updates. Read More:

Yankees makes pair of roster moves following Phillies loss
MLB

Yankees makes pair of roster moves following Phillies loss

After a crushing 12–5 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night, the New York Yankees made a pair of roster changes aimed at strengthening a bullpen that surrendered 10 earned runs in the loss. Right-handed reliever Scott Effross and infielder Jorbit Vivas were both optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, clearing space for immediate reinforcements. Effross, 31, bore the brunt of the damage late in the game. Entering in the ninth inning with the Yankees trailing 8–5, he gave up four runs on four hits, failing to record the shutdown frame the team desperately needed. His ERA ballooned from 5.59 to 8.44 after the outing. Across 11 appearances in 2025, Effross has allowed 10 runs on 16 hits in 10.2 innings, striking out six and walking three. The outing proved costly, both in the game and for his place on the roster. Vivas, 24, didn’t fare much better this season. Used sparingly, he appeared in 29 games while slashing .161/.266/.250 with one home run and five RBIs. He entered Friday’s game as a late substitution at third base and flew out in his lone plate appearance. In their place, the Yankees activated third baseman Ryan McMahon, acquired earlier in the day from the Colorado Rockies. The 30-year-old 2024 All-Star brings experience and a needed defensive upgrade to the hot corner. Through 100 games this season, McMahon is hitting .217 with a .314 on-base percentage and .403 slugging percentage, while adding 16 home runs and 35 RBIs. Discussing McMahon’s fit with the Yankees, Paul Goldschmidt celebrated the addition, noting how exciting he fits within New York’s defensive identity. “He’s a really good player, great defender,” Goldschmidt said of McMahon. “He’s a good hitter, and he’s going to help us.” Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that McMahon would be active for Saturday’s matchup against the Phillies. The Yankees, currently 56–47, trail the Phillies, who improved to 59–44 with Friday’s win. Boone also acknowledged the bullpen’s ongoing struggles. The relief corps entered Friday ranked 20th in the league with a 4.07 ERA and has been thinned by injuries to Mark Leiter Jr., Fernando Cruz, and Ryan Yarbrough. With Clarke Schmidt out for the season and Luis Gil still recovering, reinforcements are expected before the July 31 trade deadline. The Yankees are expected to call up a fresh arm Saturday morning. Whether that move stabilizes the bullpen or not, more changes could be imminent.

Rumored Targets to Fill 'Marner-Sized Hole' on Maple Leafs’ Roster
NHL

Rumored Targets to Fill 'Marner-Sized Hole' on Maple Leafs’ Roster

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made several moves this offseason, including the high-profile sign-and-trade that sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights. While the team added forwards Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Matias Maccelli to help shore up its depth, NHL analyst Shayna Goldman of The Athletic believes the Leafs still have a major issue to address. “There is still a Mitch Marner-sized hole in the top six,” Goldman wrote, noting that while Marner’s playoff production often fell short, his ability to produce 100 points during the regular season hasn’t been replaced. Captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander remain elite offensive weapons, and John Tavares re-signed on a more team-friendly deal, but Tavares is expected to take on a reduced role. Young forward Matthew Knies is developing nicely, but Goldman argues internal improvements alone won’t fill the void left by Marner. “With most top-tier free agents signed and just $2.9 million in cap space remaining, Toronto’s only real path to addressing this gap may come via trade,” she added. Who Might the Maple Leafs Be Targeting? The Maple Leafs have a few options still out there on the trade market. First, they might be eyeing Evan Rodrigues as a potential trade target amid the Florida Panthers’ cap crunch. With Florida $3.7 million over the cap, Rodrigues’ $3 million AAV and playoff pedigree make him an appealing, affordable top-six option to help fill the post-Marner scoring gap. Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report has predicted a major trade deadline move that could see the Leafs landing Anders Lee from the New York Islanders. Lee, 35, is in the final year of his eight-year, $7M AAV deal. While the Islanders insist they aren’t rebuilding, Lee could become a trade chip if they slip from playoff contention. His 29 goals and 25 assists last season should draw interest across the league. With Yegor Chinakhov requesting a trade out of Columbus, the Maple Leafs have emerged as a potential suitor. The skilled winger could help fill Toronto’s top-six void. Nick Robertson may be a trade chip, though his value is uncertain. Chinakhov’s upside and affordable cap hit make him an intriguing target for GM Brad Treliving. According to Nick Kypreos, Nazem Kadri may be willing to help facilitate a move to Toronto if the Calgary Flames are open to a deal. Kadri is a center, but his production certainly would help. Finally, the Maple Leafs may target Penguins winger Rickard Rakell to fill their top-six hole. Rakell, coming off a 35-goal season, fits Toronto’s cap structure and could thrive alongside Matthews or Tavares. However, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas will demand significant value, likely starting with Easton Cowan.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!