The closest team to the saints cap situation recently is the Rams and they are doing it right

The Lions were horrible and got better through high draft picks. Trading Stafford only worked because the Rams misunderstood they never needed to trade Goff (i.e. Goff is a better asset to have in the 2024 season than Stafford. The NFL wanted the new stadium in LA to have a contender in it. This urgency led to a bad trade by the Rams that benefited the Lions) The Rams had cap illusions to fit Stafford, Aaron Donald, Cupp, OBJ, Ramsey, and Von Miller all on that team.

I cannot fault the Saints for what Ram or Michael Thomas did to this team's cap. Injuries happen but to the wrong contracts on your team and you get hosed. The major mistake I do put on Loomis is not starting with an entirely new coaching staff after Payton left. Keeping Carmichael and Allen was just mediocrity embodied. It has been a nostalgia tour ever since. I felt like this franchise has been playing pretend. To me the Brees induction into the Saints Hall of Fame was a dream is over for the Beatles kind of moment. It should be obvious but for some reason we keep it because our owner died. His wife who is a great owner for respecting her late husband's wishes and ensuring this team stays in New Orleans. But in that will is also waiting for her own death and keeping the franchise in Loomis' hands. So in these respects the Saints live with three ghosts (Benson, Brees, and Payton). Until we can transition and move on this franchise is in many ways dead.