The 2026 free agency began on Monday, March 9th, and the first waves of deals were getting done before being made official by the league offices on Wednesday. Saints Executive Vice President and General Manager Mickey Loomis and the front office began by freeing up salary cap space by restructuring deals of players already under contract.
Below are the free agents the team has signed, the players the franchise has re-signed, and one player who has left in free agency.
FREE AGENT ADDITIONS
NAME: Zach Wilson
POSITION: QB
HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 6’2″ 214 lbs
AGE: 26 years old 8/3/1999
2025 TEAM: Miami Dolphins
CONTRACT: 1-year deal
BACKGROUND: Wilson was the former number two overall pick in the 2021 draft. He spent his first three seasons with the New York Jets, eventually losing the starting job. Over the last two years, the former BYU Cougar served as a backup for the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins.
CAREER STATS: 572/1004 (57% completions) 6,325 yards, 23 TD, 25 INT, 113 sacks, 73.1 passer rating, 96 carries, 499 yards, 5 TD, 24 first downs, 5 fumbles, 3 lost fumbles, 1 reception, two yards, 1 TD
NAME: Chris Rumph
POSITION: ED
HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 6’2″ 244 lbs
AGE: 27 years old 10/19/1998
2025 Team: New Orleans Saints
CONTRACT: 1-year $2 million
CAREER STATS: 86 tackles (43 solo), 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 passes defended, 11.5 stuffs
NAME: Ty Chandler
POSITION: RB
HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 5’11” 204 lbs
AGE: 27 years old 5/12/1998
2025 TEAM: Minnesota Vikings
CONTRACT: 1-year League Minimum ($1.25 million)
BACKGROUND: Chandler was taken in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Vikings and spent all four seasons of his career in Minnesota. The former North Carolina Tar Heel recorded the majority of his stats in 2023 and played in just three games this past season.
CAREER STATS: 181 carries, 710 rushing yards, 3 TD, 30 receptions, 212 receiving yards, 15 kickoff returns, 386 return yards
NAME: Dillon Radunz
POSITION: OG
HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 6’6″ 301 lbs
AGE: 27 years old 3/28/1998
2025 TEAM: New Orleans Saints
CONTRACT: 2-year $6.9 million ($3.5 million guaranteed, $2.3 million signing bonus)
NAME: Kaden Elliss
POSITION: LB
HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 6’2” 240 lbs
AGE: 30 years old (6/10/1995)
2025 TEAM: Atlanta Falcons
CONTRACT: 3-year $31 million ($23 million guaranteed, $12 million signing bonus)
BACKGROUND: Ellis is going into his eighth year in the league after starting his career with the Saints. New Orleans drafted the former Idaho Vandal in the seventh round of the 2019 draft. After four years with the Saints, Ellis spent the past three seasons with the Dirty Birds.
CAREER STATS: 481 tackles (282 solo), 20.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INT, 14 passes defended, 41 stuffs
The Saints trade away punter Kai Kroeger and a 2028 7th round pick to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2028 6th round pick.
NAME: Noah Fant
POSITION: TE
HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 6’4″ 249 lbs
AGE: 28 years old 11/20/1997
2025 TEAM: Cincinnati Bengals
CONTRACT: 2-year $8.75 million ($4.5 million guaranteed, $3 million signing bonus)
BACKGROUND: Fant was taken at the 20th overall pick in the 2019 draft by the Denver Broncos. The former Iowa Hawkeye spent his first three seasons in Mile High before getting traded to the Seattle Seahawks, and was there until 2024. Last season, Fant tested free agency and nearly signed with the Black and Gold before flipping to the Bengals.
CAREER STATS: 334 catches, 3,593 yards, 18 TD, 4 fumbles, 4 lost fumbles
NAME: David Edwards
POSITION: LG
HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 6’6″ 308 lbs
AGE: 28 years old (3/20/1997)
2025 TEAM: Buffalo Bills
CONTRACT: 4-year $61 million ($45 million guaranteed, $20 million signing bonus)
BACKGROUND: Edwards is a seven-year veteran who spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams before going across the country to play for the Buffalo Bills. The former Wisconsin Badger was taken in the fifth round (Pick 169) by Los Angeles, where he’d help the Rams win Super Bowl LVI.
NAME: Travis Etienne
POSITION: RB
HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 5’10” 215 lbs
AGE: 27 years old (1/26/1999)
2025 TEAM: Jacksonville Jaguars
CONTRACT: 4-year $52 million ($24 million guaranteed, $12 million signing bonus)
BACKGROUND: Etienne was selected by Jacksonville in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and spent all four seasons with the Jaguars. The Jennings, Louisiana native, went to Clemson for college and has put up at least 1,400 scrimmage yards in three out of four years.
CAREER STATS: 897 carries, 3,798 yards (4.2 ypc), 25 TD, 4 fumbles, 4 lost
168 catches, 1,338 yards, 7 TD, 2 fumbles
NAME: Ryan Wright
POSITION: P
HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 6’3″ 245 lbs
AGE: 25 years old (6/1/2000)
2025 TEAM: Minnesota Vikings
CONTRACT: 4-year $14 million ($8 million guaranteed, $2.5 million signing bonus)
BACKGROUND: Wright spent all four pro seasons in the land of 10,000 lakes, punting for the Vikings. The former Tulane Greenwave was Minnesota’s starting punter from day one and didn’t miss a game.
CAREER STATS: 253 punts, 12,118 yards, 47.9 AVG, Long of 77 yards, 16 touchbacks, 6.32 TB%, 100 inside 20
NAME: John Ridgeway III
POSITION: DT
HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 6’5″ 321 lbs
AGE: 26 years old (5/7/1999)
2025 TEAM: New Orleans Saints
CONTRACT: 2-year $6.2 million ($1.65 million guaranteed, $1.65 million signing bonus)
CAREER STATS: 81 tackles (36 solo), 1 forced fumble, 3 passes defended, 6.5 stuffs, 1 blocked kick