There’s a reason why there was a reported lack of interest in the New Orleans Saints’ head coaching vacancy. It has nothing to do with their quarterback situation, as Derek Carr is an above-average solution under center even if he is set to turn 34 next season.
While those reports about the disinterest in the Saints’ job may have been overblown, considering they couldn’t hire Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore until after the Super Bowl, the bigger concern in New Orleans is starting the offseason $50 million over the 2025 spending limit.
As a result of once again being in salary cap hell, the Saints have to focus on clearing cap space before they can even begin thinking about adding impact players. Yet, after hiring Moore to replace Dennis Allen as head coach, here are five moves the Saints should make next.
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Perform cap conversion on Derek Carr’s contract, save $30 million
The Chiefs will have to get creative to carve out some cap space this offseason. One idea is to do a cap conversion with Derek Carr’s contract to reduce his $51.4 million cap hit down to $20.4 million per Spotrac. This would save the Saints $30 million, giving them $20.1 million more to clear. The biggest downside to this move is it would add three ‘void’ years on the back of Carr’s contract, meaning they would have to allocate future cap space to him when he’s not even on the roster.
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Perform cap conversions with Taysom Hill, Cameron Jordan and Erik McCoy
As mentioned, the Saints need to clear cap space before they can think about roster additions. Here, they execute cap conversions on a few more core members of the Saints in Taysom Hill, Cameron Jordan and Erik McCoy. Again, this would ensure all players return to the Saints in 2025 while adding void years after their contracts expire, kicking the payments down the road. Doing so would save the Saints $23.6 million and finally get them $3 million below the 2025 salary cap.
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Sign Mekhi Becton
Now that Kellen Moore is jumping ship from the Eagles to the Saints, he could bring a player he’s already familiar with to New Orleans. Mekhi Becton only spent one season with the Eagles, but he had a career year while switching from tackle to right guard in Moore’s offense. Pro Football Focus graded Becton 21st among guards, grading 19th as a run blocker and 60th in pass protection. That’s enough to build off of for the 25-year-old former first-round pick.
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Sign Josh Sweat
Unless the Saints bring Chase Young back, they’ll need another edge rusher. Perhaps this time their new head coach can convince his team to sign Josh Sweat to a long-term contract since Moore already has some familiarity with him from their season together in Philadelphia. A one-time Pro Bowler, Sweat is coming off an eight-sack season and we’ve already seen a higher ceiling from the 27-year-old when he recorded 11 sacks in 2022.
Draft WR Tetairoa McMillan or CB Will Johnson
Owning the ninth pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Saints should be able to fill one of their top needs. Chances are, either the best wide receiver or best defensive back from this draft class will be available. McMillan is a 6-foot-5 monster who would complement speedster receiver Chris Olave well. Meanwhile, Will Johnson would help replace Marshon Lattimore, giving the Saints a potential playmaking shutdown cornerback with physicality.
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