The New Orleans Saints narrowly missed the NFL Playoffs with a 9-8 record. They came into the last week needing a win and a San Francisco 49ers loss. The Saints did their part, but the Los Angeles Rams fell short and lost to the 49ers, ending the season for NOLA.
It's now time for the Saints to enter offseason mode to improve the roster. This will start with re-signing key players before they enter the open market. Teams always have free agents, but the Saints have crucial ones to bring back.
Here are the three best players the Saints must re-sign in the 2022 NFL free agency.
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Marcus Williams – Free Safety
Williams has been a solid young safety for the Saints, but his contract has come to an end. They signed him to a one-year deal this past offseason and he proved that he is worth a long-term contract. Williams had two interceptions this season as well as a forced fumble. He also defended eight passes and made a real impact in their secondary.
His play recognition and quickness allow him to make plays on the ball. Losing Williams in free agency would be detrimental to the Saints' secondary and create a big hole for them. It will be vital for their success to do whatever they can to bring him back.
Terron Armstead – Left Tackle
Armstead is another crucial piece that the Saints need to bring back in free agency. The three-time Pro Bowler has been a premier left tackle, and the team needs to retain him to protect the quarterback. Armstead is one of the best left tackles in the league but often deals with injury issues.
He is set to have ankle surgery that he chose to wait for so he could play if the Saints made it to the postseason. Armstead is a much-needed piece for Sean Payton's group as he brings toughness and tenacity to the offensive line. If the Saints are unable to re-sign him, they will be in a very difficult spot for next season when it comes to the offensive line. Going from a Pro Bowl left tackle to a depth lineman would be a steep drop in offensive production.
Jameis Winston – Quarterback
Although the other re-signings are essential, bringing back Winston is the most crucial. He was having a great season as the starting QB for the Saints before going down with a season-ending injury. He suffered a torn ACL with damage to his MCL.
Despite not having many weapons at his disposal, Winston was not turning the ball over. In his seven games, he threw for 1,170 yards along with 14 touchdowns to only three interceptions. NOLA was 5-2 in those seven outings and was on the road to a playoff berth. Unfortunately, his injury spelled trouble for the Saints and led to them barely missing the postseason.
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Bringing Winston back would put the Saints in a position to get back to their winning ways and continue building as an organization. He is only 28 years old and still has room to grow as a quarterback. His turnover issues from the past seem to be behind him, and he now needs to work on becoming an efficient passer. Re-signing him should be a no-brainer.
The Saints have an eventful offseason ahead with many decisions to make. They have a talented team, and retaining a few integral pieces would be an excellent start to a successful 2022-23 campaign.
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