Who is the most important free agent for the New Orleans Saints in 2023? Which player is indispensable? Tight end Juwan Johnson is a good pick, and there’s a case for linebacker Kaden Elliss or defensive tackle David Onyemata. There’s even a less-convincing case to be made for quarterback Andy Dalton. But the team at Pro Football Focus has a suggestion. PFF salary cap analyst Brad Spielberger says it’s veteran defensive end Marcus Davenport, writing:
“Davenport has struggled to stay on the field throughout his five years with the Saints, but if he leaves in free agency, they’ll have very little talent to speak off on the edge outside of a 34-year-old Cameron Jordan on the final year of his contract, with 2021 first-round pick edge defender Payton Turner a healthy scratch for much of his second season.
Buy Saints TicketsOver the past three seasons, Davenport’s 19.0% pass-rush win rate ranks 14th and his 14.2% pressure rate ranks 17th among edge defenders. The Saints simply cannot give up that level of pass-rush productivity because he’s played only about 475 snaps a season — that is, unless his asking price takes him out of consideration, which is entirely possible.”
