3 Impending Saints Free Agents With the Most to Prove in 2020

The New Orleans Saints found a way to improve their already impressive 2019 roster. General manager Mickey Loomis signed big-name free agents in receiver Emmanuel Sanders and safety Malcolm Jenkins, while retaining quarterback Drew Brees and offensive lineman Andrus Peat to help make the team the favorites (on paper) to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LV. If there was any year to go win the Lombardi Trophy, it's 2020, because there are some key players set to hit the open market at season's end.

Here are three impending free agents on the Saints with the most to prove this upcoming campaign.

3. Mario Edwards

When you look at the Saints depth chart, the starting defensive end roles are set in stone with Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport. That leaves little room for Mario Edwards Jr. to mess up next season. He never really lived up to his second round selection back in 2015, but he's proven that he's a decent option off the bench. This past season with the Saints, Edwards recorded eight total tackles (two for loss), three quarterback hits, three sacks, and one forced fumble on 293 defensive snaps. Entering a contract year, Edwards has to exceed expectations on the field if he wants to remain with the team or get paid elsewhere.

2. Sheldon Rankins

Back in 2016, the Saints used their first-round pick on Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. When he's healthy, he 's a true force on the interior of the defensive line. But that's the issue, because he's had so many injuries through the first four years of his career. Rankins suffered a broken fibula his rookie year, a torn Achilles in 2018, and a season-ending ankle injury in 2019. Rankins has to prove his worth this season. New Orleans exercised his fifth-year option last year, and now he has to put up strong numbers if he wants to receive a lucrative deal with the Saints or one of the other 31 squads in the league next league year.

1. Alvin Kamara

Unfortunately, Alvin Kamara is a running back that's looking for a big payday. In today's NFL, teams prefer to select a rookie rusher in the NFL Draft for cheap rather than give a running back a huge contract. Kamara, much like Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina Panthers, is an exception to the rule. Ever since entering the league in 2017, Kamara showed the world how electric he can be with his speed and his pass-catching abilities. However, he's coming off a down 2019 season, during which he rushed for 797 yards and five touchdowns while hauling in 81 receptions for 533 yards and one score. Even so, Kamara is a top-tier running back in the NFL and can potentially earn a contract similar to that of McCaffrey if he can put up better numbers in 2020. But the biggest question that remains is whether he'll opt to holdout before the season a la Dalvin Cook.