It’s shaping up for another busy New Orleans Saints offseason — along with the usual salary cap gymnastics, the Saints must navigate free agency, make moves in the 2024 NFL draft, and install an updated offense with Klint Kubiak calling plays and new position coaches being introduced in almost every meeting room.
To help fans keep track of everything, we’ve put together a calendar of important dates to remember in the months ahead. Some key milestones are unclear, like when the NFL will confirm the 2024 salary cap and compensatory draft picks (it’ll be done before free agency in March) as well as this year’s games schedule (rolling out at some point in May).
But here’s what we do know:
February 20
This was the start of the two-week window for teams to issue the franchise tag or transition tag to eligible free agents. While the Saints are not expected to use this tool, it carries big implications for division rivals like Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans and Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns.
February 27 - March 4
It’s the week of the NFL Scouting Combine from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where hundreds of draft prospects will meet with teams and go through athletic testing drills to help improve their draft stock. The Saints always send a large contingent to this event.
March 5
This is the deadline for teams to use the franchise or transition tag (at 3 p.m. CT). While the Saints aren’t expected to use the tag, some of their rivals may be weighing it.
March 11
The legal negotiating window for free agents opens at 11 a.m. CT, and a number of Saints players will have the opportunity to entertain offers from other teams. While deals may be agreed to during this time, no contracts can be signed, and we’ve seen players back out of agreements before.
March 12
This is the effective deadline for the Saints to extend Andrus Peat — his contract will void in the middle of the legal tampering period, making him a free agent and leaving the Saints with more than $13.6 million in dead money. If they’re going to keep him, they must cut a deal before this date.
March 13
The NFL rolls over into a new calendar year at 3 p.m. CT, allowing teams to consummate trades and officially sign free agents. All of the deals we’ll have been talking around will finally be brought out into the light and finalized.
Additionally, Alvin Kamara has a $1 million roster bonus due on this date, and Carl Granderson has a whopping $9 million roster bonus of his own set to trigger. They could be paid out differently as signing bonuses if the Saints restructure their contracts. That’s also true for defensive lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon, though his $500,000 roster bonus is less of a concern.
March 16
There’s a trigger on this date that will guarantee $1.5 million of Cameron Jordan’s salary in 2025 if he’s still on the roster. He’s not going anywhere, but if he were considering retirement this mechanism gives him a deadline to make a decision before the Saints would have to make it for him.
On top of that, if Derek Carr is on the roster by this date (and he will be), his 2025 roster bonus will guarantee — promising him $10 million next year.
It’s also the end of the line for Jameis Winston. If he’s on the roster the Saints will owe him an outlandish $107.2 million, which functions as a poison pill and makes this date a hard deadline to release or extend him. Michael Thomas is in a similar situation.
March 17
If Cesar Ruiz is on the team at this point, his $9.15 million base salary in 2025 becomes fully guaranteed. Cutting or trading him would yield marginal salary cap benefits so he’s expected to restructure his deal (which includes an $8 million roster bonus primed for conversion to a signing bonus) and continue to start at right guard for at least the next two years.
March 18
In a similar vein to Jordan, Davis has a $2 million roster bonus due on this date. It works the same way: the Saints could fold it into a restructure and pay it out differently, but it also works as a deadline in case he’s weighing retirement. He’s expected to return, but he’s entering the final year of his contract and another extension could be on the table. So this is a deadline for both sides.
Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy and starting tight end Juwan Johnson also have roster bonuses due on this date, but they are significantly more modest at $500,000 each. McCoy is a virtual lock to restructure his contract and lower his salary cap hit this spring. Nose tackle Khalen Saunders is similarly scheduled for a $300,000 roster bonus on this date.
Left guard James Hurst is owed a $1.75 million roster bonus on this date but he’s a salary cap cut candidate, so this may be a deadline to force a decision. That’s also true for backup running back Jamaal Williams, whose $700,000 roster bonus triggers on March 18.
March 24-27
The NFL will gather for spring meetings in Arizona, and it’s a busy event — team owners as well as general managers, head coaches, and some high-profile free agents will all be in the mix. Rules changes will be considered by the competition committee and trade chatter may pick up.
April 15
This is the earliest that offseason workouts may begin for New Orleans. The Saints are going to be busy installing Klint Kubiak’s offense as well as his new coaching staff, though field work is very tightly controlled by the league’s CBA.
April 17
This is the latest date teams may host draft prospects for “top 30” visits at the home facility for private interviews and workouts. Last year, running back Kendre Miller was one of their draft picks who was initially invited on one of these visits.
April 19
This is the deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets from other teams, which their current team may match. Wide receiver Lynn Bowden and fullback Adam Prentice are the Saints’ most-notable RFA’s.
April 24
This is a big day on the calendar. It’s the drop date for teams to contact draft prospects in any way, including virtually, before the draft kicks off the next day.
On top of that, it’s the deadline for teams to match offer sheets for restricted free agents — like San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings, a popular pick to follow Klint Kubiak to New Orleans this offseason. If the Saints offer Jenningis a contract, San Francisco must choose whether or not to match it.
April 25-27
Draft day is finally here, and the three-day event will see the Saints make picks as many as nine picks, assuming the latest projections are accurate. Their first choice clocks in at No. 14 overall.
May 2
This is the deadline for the Saints to choose whether or not to exercise their fifth-year option in Payton Turner’s contract, which would guarantee the defensive end’s salary for 2025 — estimated at $13.8 million. He hasn’t made enough plays and has missed too much time with injuries to justify that expensive, but you never know.
