By: Tybalt Wallace 
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Dysfunction has been the best descriptor for the Saints for much of the last four years. The Dennis Allen era saw the team lose multiple promising young players and core veterans to other teams, bad decisions in free agency, and poor drafting. The Kellen Moore era has brought some much-needed hope, though at times had fans questioning if it was more of the same. Now, with second-year QB Tyler Shough seemingly cemented as the starter and future face of the franchise, and reliable backup Spencer Rattler under contract, it appears that Moore and the Saints have cracked the code on the QB position and can finally enter the rebuild that fans have been begging for from a position of strength. The real question is “where do they start?” There are multiple holes on the offensive side of the ball and the available free agent options are few and far between when it comes to having a lasting impact.
With that in mind, I think we should start by taking a look at some of my best value free agents available who I think fit in the scheme that Kellen is trying to implement. Adam and Ryan can better speak to some of the higher-end guys the team is targeting, but my bag is and always has been the third wave guys. My criteria here are guys who are 27 or under, have spot start records but aren’t consistent starters and who best fit the scheme I think Kellen is trying to run.
Let’s dive in.
HALFBACK:
Patrick Taylor, 49ers – I think this is a guy who can absolutely be a short-yardage third-down chain mover and can bring some competition for Neal in the RB room. He’s a bigger-bodied guy who runs with a one-cut style, but needs to work on his pad level. He’s not afraid of contact either. His ability to make defenders miss in space is something the Saints need as well.
Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press
Tyler Allgeier, Falcons- I know, I know, blasphemy, but hear me out, Allgeier has been playing the second man in Atlanta since 2022 and has slowly worked into a larger role as the second back. His rookie season was his only thousand-yard season, and he has seen his role fall off a bit with the ascent of Bijan Robinson. Moving 7 hours West to New Orleans could give him a chance to become the man if he can beat out whoever the Saints draft as the heir to AK. I don’t know if he makes it to the third wave of FA, but if he does, go after him.
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Hassan Haskins, Chargers – Coming back down to Earth here after shooting my shot for Allgeier, Haskins is definitely a guy who I can see landing in New Orleans. A short-yardage hammer who looks like he was cut out of stone, Haskins hasn’t really made an impact in the NFL yet. His run blocking is something that I think gives him extra value, and on a team with no Fullback, having a Halfback who can block in the run game on two-man sets is a blessing. I think he could be a very good 3rd down back if he gets a shot and can easily contribute on special teams. 
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TIGHT END:
Greg Dulcich, Dolphins – “Another UCLA TE, really TJ?” I hear you, but Dulcich is a better player than Matavao and has some decent hands. He does suffer some of the same issues we hate seeing in the TE room; rounding off his routes, not good at securing concentration catches, not much after contact, but this is a third wave FA signing, a guy you take a chance on and see if his ability to catch off his frame and his positional versatility gives you a spark in play calling. For a league minimum of one year, take a chance.
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Stone Smartt, Jets – A converted QB with only a couple of years of experience playing TE, Smartt is an athletic player who can fill multiple roles in an offense, from WR, TE, and FB to emergency QB in a pinch. He has some familiarity with Moore from his time as the Chargers’ OC, and Moore is the one who gave him a shot in the offense as a second-year player. I can see him as a very poor man’s Taysom Hill, a do-it-all guy who isn’t afraid to try new things. Not saying he’s that caliber of player but if what you want is positional versatility and a willingness to work, Smartt has that in spades.
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Connor Heyward, Steelers – The son of Saints legend Iron Head Heyward, Connor is a guy I can easily see the Saints targeting. Another hybrid style athletic TE, Heyward has taken snaps at Wildcat QB, FB, and TE. He’s run a few “tush push” plays with Pittsburgh and gives you a tough-as-nails, hard-working TE who will do whatever the team asks of him. While his numbers haven’t jumped off the page, he should still get a shot in an otherwise empty TE room.
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WIDE RECEIVER:
Skyy Moore, 49ers – The first of a trio of smaller, faster WRs, Moore is a noted return man I’ve had my eye on for the past two seasons. A former 2nd round pick for the Chiefs, he hasn’t been able to crack a team’s rotation as a starting wideout, but as a returner, he can be electric. The real value he brings is definitely in the special teams room, but as a 4th or 5th option in spread sets, he can take the top off a defense and allow someone else to get open over the middle. Not a sexy signing, but one that would help the offense go.
Scot Tucker/Associated Press
Tylan Wallace, Ravens – Wallace would add another speed element to the Saints offense and special teams unit if signed. He’s a smaller guy (under 6 feet) but has high-end speed (4.49 40-yard dash) and the ability to change direction with a twitch. He’s been buried on Baltimore’s depth chart but has still managed to make some explosive plays when he gets snaps. As a 5th option, he could be a nice change of pace guy, but his real value would be in the return game, much like Skyy Moore.
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Dyami Brown, Jaguars – Another small speed guy, Brown has had some actual tangible success in the league during his time in Washington and parlayed that into a one year 10 million dollar deal last offseason. He can thrive in the right system, but his skill set does remind of Rasheed Shaheed a bit and would likely end up just vulturing targets in big moments. Again, the vision here is as a core ST player and occasional 5th WR on spread sets.
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OFFENSIVE LINE:
Luke Fortner, C, Saints – “What the hell is this?” I hear you saying as you read. This has everything to do with market value. Right now, there is a shortage of starting caliber Centers on the FA market and the prices are going up. As of the time of this article, there isn’t a viable day 3 option for Center at all that meets my criteria. The Saints can absolutely sign a cheaper guy who is older than 27 in 3rd wave FA, and probably will, but for my list, Fortner is the guy.
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Jamaree Salyer, G, Chargers– Salyer doesn’t seem like the guy to go after here, but he was a starter under Moore in 2023, and that was his best year as a pro. He’s the 4th youngest available OL free agent and should be able to be signed for a relatively low offer compared to other players at his position. The Saints need all the depth they can get on the interior, and Salyer would provide that as the team likely moves on from oft-injured Nick Saldiveri in the near future.
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Thayer Munford Jr, T, Patriots – Munford falls under the blanket of “why not” when it comes to FA deals. A 7th round pick in 2022, he would provide solid depth along the exterior OL and could probably push for the third or fourth tackle spot if New Orleans opts to let Landon Young go in an effort to get cheaper. Munford played only 5 games last season and logged 100 snaps even, but for a mid-April deal, I don’t see much better value, especially considering the bulk of his plays came in the postseason against the best competition.
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These may not end up being any of the moves that the Saints make, but I’d love any of them if they were. The offense should definitely be the focus of Free Agency and the draft so that the faint spark of last year’s 6-10 finish can be nurtured into a roaring fire moving forward. Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch y’all in my next one.
