New Orleans Saints DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The New Orleans Saints have signed free-agent wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. to a one-year deal. Jones is a former third-round pick of the Chicago Bears from 2022. He was never able to make much of an impact in Chicago and was waived by the team in October. Jones finished out last season with the Carolina Panthers, but he didn't see much of the field over there. He'll compete for a spot on the 53-man roster in training camp and could serve as a depth option or kick returner if he's able to make the team.

The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal to re-sign wide receiver Dante Pettis on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Pettis began the 2024 season with the Chicago Bears before being released in September with an injury settlement. He eventually latched onto the Saints' practice squad before becoming a part of their offense late in the season. The 29-year-old finished his sixth year in the NFL with 12 receptions on 28 targets for just 120 yards and one touchdown in eight starts. The former second-round pick (44th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018 out of the University of Washington had his best season in his rookie year, when he had 27 catches for 467 yards and five touchdowns on 45 targets in 12 games (seven starts). Pettis will look for a bigger role in his first full season in New Orleans but will most likely have a small role behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.

The New Orleans Saints re-signed tight end Juwan Johnson to a three-year deal worth over $30 million, sources tell FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Johnson was one of the top tight ends available on the open market this offseason and will return to the Saints after a career-best 50-548-3 line in 17 games (five starts) in his fifth year in the league in 2024. The 28-year-old can make as much as $34.5 million and will receive $21.25 million guaranteed. Even though Johnson had a career year with the Saints last year, he finished as the TE17 in half-point PPR scoring. The good news is that Johnson will return to the only team he's played for in his five NFL seasons and will continue working with veteran quarterback Derek Carr in new head coach Kellen Moore's system. The bad news is that Johnson will likely continue to be inconsistent from a fantasy perspective on a weekly basis as a TE2.

The Athletic's Nick Kosmider suggests that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton could target New Orleans Saints tight ends Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill (knee) this offseason. Johnson signed with the Saints when Payton was still the head coach in 2020 and had seven touchdowns in Payton's final season in 2022. The 28-year-old played in all 17 games in 2023 and finished with career-highs in catches (50) and receiving yards (548). His 18 TD receptions since 2021 are tied for seventh-most among all TEs in that span. Johnson also ranks sixth among all TEs the last four years in average air yards per target (8.64). He'd give Denver a downfield threat at the position that they've been lacking. Hill, a do-it-all 34-year-old that has been a RB and WR for Payton in the past in New Orleans, could be cut by the Saints this offseason after tearing his ACL in 2024. He'd give Denver another option in the short-yardage running game, an area they struggled at this past season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the New Orleans Saints re-signed running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday. Edwards-Helaire began the 2024 season with the Kansas City Chiefs but opened the year on the Non-Football Illness list while dealing with mental-health issues. The former 32nd overall pick by the Chiefs in 2020 out of LSU never played in a regular-season game for KC last year before being waived in December and picked up by the Saints as additional depth for a banged-up backfield. The 25-year-old ended up playing in two games for the Saints, carrying the ball 13 times for 46 yards and adding three catches for 24 yards. CEH, who has averaged 4.2 yards per carry in his five NFL seasons, will now work out with New Orleans this offseason and attempt to win a roster spot in training camp. He'll be facing an uphill battle for a significant role on offense in 2025.