Report: Saints sign 6-foot-5 CFL wide receiver to reserve/future deal

Here's an interesting pickup. The New Orleans Saints are signing wide receiver Damien Alford to a reserve/futures contract, per 3 Down Nation's Justin Dunk. Alford played college football at Syracuse and Utah before turning pro last year, where he put up some impressive numbers at the Big 12 Pro Day -- weighing in at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds with a 4.46-second time in the 40 yard dash.

While he wasn't drafted to the NFL, Alford was the first overall pick in the 2025 CFL Draft. He had a strong debut with the Calgary Stampeders and quickly established himself as one of the Canadian league's best deep threats, averaging 20.4 yards per catch. He totaled 20 receptions for 407 receiving yards and five touchdown catches. Dunk adds that Alford tried out in New Orleans back in November and passed on workouts with other teams after the Saints offered him a sizeable signing bonus.

He's an interesting prospect to add to the receiving corps for 2026. With a big frame and big-play potential, Alford brings something that may have been missing (or at least limited to DeVaughn Vele as the only other big man in the group). These are the Saints wideouts under contract for 2026 from lightest to heaviest:

Advertisement

1. Mason Tipton: 5-foot-11, 187 pounds

2. Chris Olave: 6-foot-0, 187 pounds

3. Trey Palmer: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds

4. Ronnie Bell: 6-foot-0, 192 pounds

5. Samori Toure: 6-foot-1, 196 pounds

6. Kevin Austin Jr.: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds

7. Ja'Lynn Polk: 6-foot-1, 203 pounds

8. Devaughn Vele: 6-foot-5, 210 pounds

9. Bub Means: 6-foot-2, 215 pounds

10. Elijah Cooks: 6-foot-4, 215 pounds

11. Damien Alford: 6-foot-5, 215 pounds

Veteran backup Dante Pettis, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, is a free agent in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Report: Saints sign former Syracuse, Utah WR Damien Alford from CFL