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For the first time in a couple of years, we know for sure who the New Orleans Saints starting quarterback will be in 2026: Tyler Shough. The rookie draft pick went on a tear to close the season, winning five of his eight starts and four in a row before losing to the archrival Atlanta Falcons by two points in Week 18. Now the Saints have the opportunity to improve his supporting cast and see if Shough really is the guy for 2027 and beyond.
One way they'll go about that? Signing proven veterans in free agency. And ESPN's Ben Solak likes the Saints to swing big in hopes of fixing their offensive line. Solak's big prediction for the Saints offseason would turn one of their biggest weaknesses into an area of strength:
Big prediction for the offseason: The Saints will sign ex-Bills guard David Edwards to a big deal, as he's the lone exciting player who could be available in the guard market. The offensive line is a sneakily solid group when center Erik McCoy is healthy, but it needs better guard play.-- Solak
Neither Trevor Penning nor Dillon Radunz manned the left guard spot well for New Orleans in 2025, so Edwards would be a huge upgrade. The sixth-year pro out of Wisconsin has logged nearly 5,000 snaps at left guard in his NFL career and dramatically outplayed the two-year, $6 million extension he signed with the Buffalo Bills back in 2024. The experts at Spotrac project Edwards could find $20 million or more per year on the open market, and for the Saints, that could be money well spent. One of the perks of starting a quarterback on a low-cost rookie contract (Shough's 2026 salary cap hit will be just over $2.4 million) is being able to invest in other positions.
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We've already previewed the Saints' salary cap situation for 2026, but fitting Edwards under the cap on a deal totaling $60 million is easier than you might think. Following the same model the Saints have used in similar contracts with a first-year minimum salary ($1,215,000 in 2026), a big signing bonus ($21 million), and a couple of void years that will trigger in 2029 (spreading that signing bonus proration out across five years, rather than three), here's what we're left with:
2026 cap hit: $5,415,000 from a $1,215,000 base salary (guaranteed) and $4.2 million signing bonus proration (guaranteed)
2027 cap hit: $18,200,000 from a $9.5 million base salary (guaranteed), $4.2 million signing bonus proration (guaranteed), $3 million roster bonus and $1.5 million workout bonus
2028 cap hit: $28,450,000 from a $19.5 million base salary (partially guaranteed), $4.2 million signing bonus proration (guaranteed), $3 million roster bonus and $1.75 million workout bonus
2029 dead money: $8.4 million from remaining signing bonus prorations
While this would effectively be a two-year deal with a team option for 2028, the Saints could get out of it in 2027 if they need to. Edwards would get the $21 million signing bonus up front and more than $40 million in total guarantees, with a max value over $60 million for three years. If all goes well they could restructure his deal in 2027 or work on an extension by 2028. In a perfect world he and the Saints would get what they both want out of a deal like this.
Edwards, who turns 29 a week after free agency opens up in March, has earned a reputation for clean pass protection and heady blocking on the run. He's in the prime of his career and could do a lot to strengthen the offensive line between Kelvin Banks Jr. at left tackle and McCoy at center. The Saints have struggled to draft and develop guards like Penning and Cesar Ruiz, so adding a blue-chip free agent wouldn't be the worst choice they could make. If nothing else, we'll be watching Edwards closely when he and the Bills make their push for a Super Bowl this postseason.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL free agency: ESPN predicts Saints sign Bills guard David Edwards
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