Saints 2024 free agency tracker: Offseason moves, signings
Here’s a breakdown of every 2024 NFL free agent signing by the New Orleans Saints and how each will impact the upcoming season:
New Orleans and former Kansas City Chiefs free agent linebacker Willie Gay agreed to a one-year deal on Tuesday.
What it means: The Saints need linebacker depth with just three on the roster, and Gay played significant snaps as a starter in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win against the San Francisco 49ers. They’ve had a lot of success going to the well of former Kansas City players, signing Tyrann Mathieu, Tanoh Kpassagnon and Khalen Saunders, so it makes sense to add another one to the roster. Gay could quickly be a solid addition next to Demario Davis and Pete Werner.
What’s the risk: Not much. One-year deals don’t have lasting cap hits for the Saints, and Gay is only 26 with potential to play for a second contract. Gay missed the Super Bowl during the 2021 season with an injury, and was suspended four games in 2022 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy due to an arrest for misdemeanor criminal destruction of property. However, he played the entire season for the Chiefs last year and has started 47 games in his career.