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By Sean Fazende | WVUE

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) -The dust has now settled on the first week of NFL free agency. For the Saints, some old friends said goodbye, while some new faces jumped aboard. Here are my five takes from the eventful week that was.

Take One: Price point policy

Tyrann Mathieu got $14million. Adam Humphries got $9million. Congrats to both of those guys for getting paid. Both were at top of my free agent wish list for the Saints, just not at those prices.

The Saints showed restraint early on as astronomical contracts were dished out to players left and right. Instead, they stayed true to their price points and spent the first few days taking care of their own with Craig Robertson and Wil Lutz. They eventually landed Latavius Murray (more on him later), Malcolm Brown, Nick Easton and Mario Edwards to reasonable deals.

History has shown, at least in the Saints case, these are the types of deals that they have the most success with. Signing other teams’ free agents to record-breaking contracts rarely works in the NFL and it certainly has bitten the Saints before (see Byrd, Jairus).

Full Story -- WVUE

By Justis Mosqueda | Bleacher Report

On Saturday, we broke down one move each NFL team made that gives room for optimism. Today, the other shoe drops.

We will go team-by-team, taking you through some of most questionable moves franchises have made this offseason. In two or three years, we may be able to pinpoint a drop-off in record or a coach's tenure based on these risky decisions.

Some players got overpaid this offseason. Others should still be in their old uniforms. Some teams clearly "lost" a trade. Others did not prioritize a championship window.

Every franchise started the offseason in a different place, but contextualizing where teams stood before the new league year and where they are now allows us to second-guess some of their decisions.

Full Story -- BR

By Steve Rivera | Clutch Points

You have to admire New Orleans Saints backup quarterback and million dollar clip board holder Teddy Bridgewater. The one-time starter for the Minnesota Vikings decided to remain as the understudy to Drew Brees for at least one more season in the Big Easy. He also passed on what looked to be an absolute lock as the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins.

Go figure.

Bridgewater signed a one year, $7.25 million dollar contract to stay in New Orleans. It also has some performance incentives that could make it a $12.5 deal when all...

By Rod Walker | The Advocate

Simply put, Max Unger's soon-to-be 33-year old body couldn't go any longer.

After 10 seasons in the NFL, including four with the New Orleans Saints, the Pro Bowl center had to call it quits.

Unger spoke to the media Monday, two days after the surprising announcement that he was retiring from the game that has been such an important part of his life since his freshman year of high school.

"At the end of the day, I guess I'm retiring because I didn't think I could make it through another season," said Unger, who turns 33 in April. "I've had health issues. At the end of the day, you kind of evaluate how you're playing and where you see life after football going."

Full Story - The Advocate

By Todd A. Price, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has put more money in the restaurant business with an investment in Smalls Sliders, a new fast-food burger joint.

Smalls, according to a press release, will be "focusing exclusively on craveable, premium slider burgers as the main dish." All meals will be cooked to order in an open kitchen.

Full Story - NOLA.com

By Herbie Teope - Around the NFL Writer | NFL.com

Running back Mark Ingram arrives in Baltimore with two 1,000-yard rushing campaigns on his eight-year career while with the New Orleans Saints.

The powerfully built 5-foot-9, 215-pound rusher entertained returning to New Orleans and reportedly drew interest from the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers before electing to sign with the Ravens.

So, why decide on Baltimore? Turns out Ingram was thoroughly "a thousand percent" attracted to playing with quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' run-heavy offense.

"That was very interesting and something that really caught my attention," Ingram told reporters during Friday's introductory news conference. "To have the opportunity to be in an offense that runs the ball and have Lamar with his run-pass option...

By Mike Triplett | ESPN Staff Writer

METAIRIE, La. -- Taken individually, the New Orleans Saints should be able to overcome the loss of Mark Ingram or Max Unger or Benjamin Watson.

But, man, when you add those guys together, that is a lot of proven experience and leadership leaving the building all at once.

Here’s the positive spin:

• The Saints could potentially upgrade their tight end spot following the 38-year-old Watson’s retirement if they sign free agent Jared Cook, who visited with the team late last week.
• They have already replaced Ingram (who signed with the Baltimore Ravens) with another veteran running back in Latavius Murray -- who hasn’t been quite as productive as Ingram but certainly seems capable of filling the No. 2 job alongside...

By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

The New Orleans Saints were active during the first week of free agency, adding a few players at positions of need and visiting with a few others.

Thus far, the Saints signed defensive linemen Malcom Brown and Mario Edwards and running back Latavius Murray. They also retained quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, linebacker Craig Robertson, safety Chris Banjo and kicker Wil Lutz.

Meanwhile, a few free agents signed elsewhere with running back Mark Ingram going to the Ravens and defensive end Alex Okafor joining the Chiefs.

With the second week of free agency beginning, there are still some holes on the roster, so here's a recalibration of the Saints' needs.

Full Story - NOLA.com

Photo - Twincities.com

By Mike Triplett | ESPN Staff Writer

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints have a new leading contender for their starting center vacancy.

The Saints agreed to a four-year, $24 million contract with former Minnesota Vikings guard/center Nick Easton, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The agreement comes one day after news broke that the Saints' Pro Bowl center Max Unger is retiring, and the Saints plan to play Easton at center, according to the source. Easton, 26, missed all of last season because of surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck. But he started a total of 17 games at both guard and center for the Vikings in 2016 and 2017.

The 6-foot-3, 303-pounder began his career as a popular undrafted center out of Harvard in 2015. He originally signed with the Baltimore Ravens, then was traded to the San Francisco 49ers that September and traded to the Vikings that October. ...

Full Story - ESPN.com