Fanduel
Log In
The Duel

3 Low-Cost Free Agents the Saints Should Sign This Offseason

By Tristan Jung

Sean Payton walks onto the field after a game against the Carolina Panthers.
Sean Payton walks onto the field after a game against the Carolina Panthers. / Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
facebooktwitterreddit

The New Orleans Saints have some major decisions to make in the 2020 offseason. After losing an overtime heartbreaker to the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round, the Saints are likely still fantasizing about what could've been. However, several pressing offseason issues will loom large in the coming months.

The Saints have no quarterbacks under contract for 2020, as Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill are all in line to hit free agency. It's hard to imagine Brees leaving the Saints to play for any other team. However, unless he takes a sizable pay cut, he will take up much of the Saints available budget for free agents. Backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is likely headed to start for another NFL team. Whatever happens there, the Saints also need to upgrade their linebacker corps and offensive line, all with some serious budgetary constraints.

Here are some low-cost options that the Saints could sign in 2020.

1. Joe Schobert, LB, Cleveland Browns

Joe Schobert plays in a game against the Miami Dolphins.
Joe Schobert plays in a game against the Miami Dolphins. / Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

Starting outside linebacker A.J. Klein will hit free agency in 2020, and there's a good chance the Saints won't be able to bring him back. Backups like Manti Te'o and Josh Martin are also entering free agency. That leaves an opening for a linebacker like Joe Schobert, who was a solid contributor at for the Cleveland Browns and can come in at a relatively low price. Schobert could be out the door with yet another coaching turnover in Cleveland, and he will fit comfortably with the Saints' 4-3 scheme. Schobert made 89 solo tackles in 2019 and has started 45 games across the last three seasons.

2. Jon Bostic, LB, Washington Redskins

Jonathan Bostic tackles Dak Prescott in a game against the Cowboys.
Jonathan Bostic tackles Dak Prescott in a game against the Cowboys. / Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Similar to Schobert, the Saints could sign Jon Bostic as a solidifying force for their linebacker group. Bostic is a six-year veteran and has been one of the more reliable linebackers in the NFL. After being cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bostic posted a 105-tackle season with the Washington Redskins, making him one of their few defensive standouts in 2019.

3. Mike Iupati, G, Seattle Seahawks

Mike Iupati lines up in a game against the Cleveland Browns.
Mike Iupati lines up in a game against the Cleveland Browns. / Jason Miller/Getty Images

Mike Iupati has been around for a long time, but the 33-year-old guard is likely to receive interest once again as he hits free agency. Iupati has fallen off the Pro Bowl level he hit with the San Francisco 49ers, but he's still a reliable option and has protected Russell Wilson effectively this season. Importantly, Iupati was fully healthy in 2019 after missing 21 games across 2017 and 2018. His injury history will scare off some teams and likely reduce his price-tag, but if he doesn't resign with the Seattle Seahawks, he could be a good replacement for starting guard Andrus Peat. The Saints also have a solid internal replacement in Nick Easton, so a short-term deal for Iupati could work here.

Join FanDuel Sportsbook Today. New users get a risk-free bet up to $500. Join Now.

Tristan Jung is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Tristan Jung also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username tristan1117. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.