12up Logo

3 Players the Saints Are Guaranteed to Lose in Free Agency

By Will Coleman

Saints quarterbacks Drew Brees, left, and Teddy Bridgewater embrace on the field after a win over the Colts.
Saints quarterbacks Drew Brees, left, and Teddy Bridgewater embrace on the field after a win over the Colts. / Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

The New Orleans Saints have been a constant in the NFL playoffs in recent memory, winning the NFC South each of the last three years. In 2020, however, the Saints could take a step back. New Orleans extended wide receiver Michael Thomas on a five-year, $100 million deal last summer and will prioritize bringing back quarterback Drew Brees this offseason, leaving them with little cap space to work with.

As a result, here are three players the Saints can't afford to retain through free agency.

3. A.J. Klein

Saints linebacker A.J. Klein, left, closes in on a sack of Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Saints linebacker A.J. Klein, left, closes in on a sack of Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill. / Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Since coming over from the division-rival Carolina Panthers, linebacker A.J. Klein has been nothing short of successful with the New Orleans defense. Klein started all but one of his 43 appearances with the Saints and has posted career highs in tackles and sacks in New Orleans. The 28-year-old might be hitting his peak on the football field, and that's exactly why his time with the Saints is likely up. Klein is one of the more coveted defensive free agent targets this offseason, and New Orleans will have a much easier time re-signing linebackers like Manti T'eo and Stephone Anthony.

2. Andrus Peat

Saints guard Andrus Peat prepares for the pass-rush of the Rams' defense.
Saints guard Andrus Peat prepares for the pass-rush of the Rams' defense. / Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

The Saints selected Andrus Peat with the 13th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, but it wasn't until recently that he really came into his own on the offensive line. Peat has overcome multiple injuries to become a versatile weapon, and that all paid off these last two seasons when he was selected to consecutive Pro Bowls. The 26-year old's rookie contract has officially expired and he's ready to break the bank with his second pro deal. As much as Peat would like to return to New Orleans, the Saints just won't have the money to meet his financial demands unless they do some SERIOUS tinkering.

1. Teddy Bridgewater

Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater studies the playbook from the bench against the Cardinals.
Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater studies the playbook from the bench against the Cardinals. / Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Teddy Bridgewater's NFL career has taken as many twists and turns as it possibly could have. The former Rookie of the Year appeared to be the quarterback of the future for the Minnesota Vikings before an unfortunate non-contact injury left him with a torn ACL and structural damage in his knee. He never suited up with the New York Jets and was dealt in a package with draft picks to New Orleans, where his career would start to pick itself back up. Bridgewater went 5-1 with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions as a backup quarterback for the Saints the past two seasons, and now he's ready to be a QB1 again. The 27-year-old would have taken on that role in New Orleans in the event that Drew Brees retired, but that obviously didn't work out for him. A lot of teams are bound to offer Bridgewater a serious contract this offseason, but the Saints won't be one of them.