The NFL offseason is a fluid beast. Things change daily, unless Aaron Rodgers is involved. For the New Orleans Saints, retooling their roster has been a theme of their past few weeks ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Saints' recent cap choices change their draft plan
The Saints were not pegged as a team that would have over $25 million at cap space by this point of the offseason. They entered the offseason with tons of space to clear just to reach cap compliancy.
New Orleans' front office accomplished that rather quickly, then they continued making moves to create even more cap space.
Even after making multiple depth signings and bringing back impact players like Juwan Johnson and Chase Young, the Saints still have room to add talent to their roster outside of the 2025 NFL Draft.
With that, a bit of pressure is relieved when it comes to filling needs early in this year's draft. The Saints can focus a bit more on simply accumulating talent, which is the best plan of action for their type of aging roster on both sides of the football.
Free agency moves
Signing players like Justin Reid and Dillon Radunz have potentially eliminated the need to draft first-year starters at guard and safety.
Meanwhile, re-signing TE Juwan Johnson to a three-year deal shores up that position. Prior to that move, Penn State TE Tyler Warren was consistently mocked to the Saints in the top ten picks of round one.
Don't forget about Chase Young's return, too. Pass rusher was almost always one of their first two picks in mock drafts.
Now, with Young back in the fold alongside Carl Granderson and a couple other veterans, they won't have to force the issue off the edge during the draft. Good news there, too.
All in all, the roster has notably less gleaming holes than it did a month ago, particularly when it comes to the Saints' biggest needs after the season. We will see how Kellen Moore navigates his first draft as an NFL head coach.
