New Orleans Saints: Keep or Cut Every 2012 Free Agent

The New Orleans Saints have one of the best general managers, Mickey Loomis, and overall front offices in the NFL.

Last year, Loomis managed to bring back 14 Saints free agents and add 12 free agents from other NFL teams. In a matter of weeks, Loomis brought back Carl Nicks, Roman Harper, Lance Moore, Jermon Bushrod, Scott Shanle, Zach Strief, David Thomas and Courtney Roby.

Loomis was also able to bring in Darren Sproles, Olin Kreutz, Shaun Rogers, Aubrayo Franklin and Turk McBride from other teams.

Every one of these players have been a factor for New Orleans in the Saints' 2011 season.

The Saints are currently trying to win their second Super Bowl in three years and if they keep playing like they are now, then that is a definite possibility.

However, whenever the time comes that the Saints' season is over, they will have a lot of work to do in the offseason. The Saints have many free agents this year, and it will be difficult to bring all of their key guys back.

Loomis is one of the best in this business and he has proven that over the years, but this offseason will definitely test just how good he is.

The Saints do not have a ton of cap space, and they will have to spend some big money to keep Drew Brees, Marques Colston and Carl Nicks in town. New Orleans will also be trying to bring back key players like Robert Meachem, Tracy Porter, Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Courtney Roby.

Let's take a look at each of the Saints' 2012 free agents, and if they should keep or cut each guy.

QB Drew Brees

I believe that it goes without saying what the Saints should do with free-agent quarterback Drew Brees.

Keep him, at whatever cost. The Saints' record-breaking quarterback has been nothing short of amazing since he became a Saint back in 2006. Brees has broken record after record and looks to have at least five or six more years left in him.

Loomis and the Saints will find a way to keep Brees; there is not doubt about that. Brees wants to be a Saint as badly as the fans and front office want him to stay.

Brees will be a Saint in 2012, and for many years to come. We can all trust in that.

DE Jeff Charleston

Jeff Charleston has been with the Saints for most of the Sean Payton era and that is because he has amazing work ethic and a high motor.

Charleston was a free agent last year and Loomis brought him back. In 2011, Charleston has played well as a backup defensive end and role player. He always seems to make a play when he is on the field and he plays an important part in the Saints defense.

As much as I hate to say it, I don't think that Charleston will be re-signed by the Saints in 2011. They currently have Will Smith, Cameron Jordan, Junior Galette, Greg Romeus and Turk McBride also on the roster.

There is definitely a chance that the Saints will bring back Charleston if they are unable to re-sign McBride, but I believe that New Orleans will let Charleston walk in the offseason.

DE Turk McBride

Turk McBride has been a good player for the Saints this year, but he has also been injured.

McBride, in my opinion, is the reason that the Saints will not bring back defensive end Jeff Charleston. McBride has more potential than Charleston and he is a great player in a backup role. This is a player that has the ability to be a great pass-rusher and run-stopper on a consistent basis.

McBride will be able to be re-signed at a good price and is a low-risk, high-reward type of player.

I expect the Saints to keep McBride and we should see him in the black and gold again next year.

DT Shaun Rogers

Shaun Rogers has not been quite the player the Saints hoped he would be this year, but he has done well.

Rogers plays a position in which stats are not indicative of his play. In 2011, Rogers has plugged up gaps and taken up blocks to allow the linebackers to get to the ball-carrier in the run game and blitzers to get to the quarterback.

I expect the Saints to re-sign Rogers at a low price and he may help them have another great year in 2012.

DT Aubrayo Franklin

Defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin has been very similar to Shaun Rogers in 2011.

He was brought in with the expectations of being an amazing run-stuffer and he has done that at times, but not as consistently as the Saints had hoped. I expect the Saints to let Franklin walk in the offseason.

He will more than likely be able to get more money on another team, and the Saints really do not need him. They currently have Shaun Rogers, Sedrick Ellis and Tom Johnson on the roster, and they could possibly draft another defensive tackle in April.

I see the Saints re-signing Rogers, and Ellis and Johnson are more than capable of playing the spot effectively. The Saints will be able to get by fine without Franklin because he can be replaced in the draft or free agency for a cheaper price.

CB Tracy Porter

Tracy Porter is one of my favorite Saints players.

He is recognized as the hero of the Saints 2009 Super Bowl. He intercepted two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Brett Favre and Peyton Manning to help the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV. Porter is a great overall cornerback and a key player for the Saints.

However, he will be offered a lot of money by a team in the offseason and will likely walk away from the Saints to sign a big check. The only way that Porter is re-signed by the Saints is if he is willing to take considerably less from the Saints than other teams.

New Orleans will be fine as they still have Jabari Greer, Patrick Robinson, Johnny Patrick and Leigh Torrence on the roster. The Saints love to draft cornerbacks and they would be able to get by without Porter.

CB Leigh Torrence

Leigh Torrence is simply a role player for the New Orleans Saints.

While he does a good job on special teams and in tight situations, Torrence may never be a capable starting cornerback or nickelback for the Saints.

However, I have already stated that I believe the Saints will let Tracy Porter go in free agency and the Saints will likely want to bring Torrence back in 2012.

New Orleans currently has Torrence, Jabari Greer, Tracy Porter, Patrick Robinson and Johnny Patrick on the roster. I believe that Porter will be gone next year, which will place Greer and Robinson at the starting spots, and Patrick is more than capable of playing in the nickel position.

That leaves Torrence as the fourth corner and a role position player. The Saints will be able to bring Torrence back at a cheap price, and he will continue to play a similar spot that he has for the last few years.

WR Robert Meachem

Robert Meachem is a key player for the best offense in the NFL.

Meachem is known as a deep threat for the Saints and he also has very reliable hands. This receiver has proved his worth in 2011, and I believe that New Orleans will keep him in the offseason.

He could probably get more money to play on a team elsewhere, but I believe that Meachem would take a little less money to play with the Saints and possibly win a couple more Super Bowls in his career.

Meachem may want the chance to become a No. 1 receiver, but it is just as likely that he will continue to play his role in New Orleans.

I believe that this is a decision that will be made by Meachem, not by the Saints. The Saints will want to keep Meachem, but it is up to him whether or not he wants to be a Saint in 2012.

QB Chase Daniel

Chase Daniel is a restricted free agent for the Saints, but I think they will want to bring Daniel back in 2012.

Daniel is a more-than-capable backup, but I do not think that he is quite ready to be a starter in the NFL, and I believe for that reason that he will be back in New Orleans next year.

Since he is a restricted free agent, the Saints will be able to match any offer Daniel gets. I honestly do not believe that a team will offer something to Daniel that the Saints would not be able to match.

Expect to see the backup quarterback in New Orleans again in 2012.

LG Carl Nicks

Carl Nicks is arguably the best guard in all of football, and he will be back in New Orleans in 2012.

Nicks is an integral part of the Saints offense and Mickey Loomis will do everything that he can to get Nicks back in 2012. I am sure that Drew Brees will do everything in his power to get the guard back in the black and gold as well.

Nicks is great at run blocking, but an ever better pass-blocker and he has helped the Saints offensive line in becoming the most consistent in the league.

The Saints will be doing everything in their power to re-sign Nicks and I fully expect him to be with the Saints next fall.

LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar

This linebacker is a very important part of the Saints defense and I strongly believe that he will be back in New Orleans next year.

Dunbar has done very well in 2011 filling in for Jonathan Vilma and as a starting outside linebacker. He is not only a great backup and special teams player, but Dunbar could very well be a starter for the Saints in the future.

Gregg Williams is a coordinator that likes to run different defensive packages, and Dunbar is a key component to a lot of those schemes. The Saints will bring Dunbar back in 2012 for a relatively cheap price.

OT Pat McQuistan

Pat McQuistan was brought into New Orleans when they found out that tackle Charles Brown was down for the season.

McQuistan has not gotten much time to play in 2011, and since the Saints will be getting Brown back after this season, I do not expect them to bring McQuistan back.

McQuistan is simply a player on the roster for depth in case an offensive lineman gets injured. After this season he will be let go. 

TE John Gilmore

John Gilmore is an interesting case for the Saints.

He is technically the third tight end on the Saints roster, behind Jimmy Graham and David Thomas. However, Gilmore is a valuable blocking tight end.

Both Graham and Thomas can block well, but Gilmore is essentially another lineman in the blocking game. He has the ability to block defensive ends, but can also sneak out and catch a pass.

The Saints typically carry three tight ends on their roster, and I expect to see them bring Gilmore back in 2012.

WR Courtney Roby

Courtney Roby may be one of the most undervalued players on the entire Saints roster.

He is the special teams captain and makes play after play on punt and kick coverage. Roby gave up his return duties to Sproles this year, but has not been a diva about it. He has played well since he became a Saint and I would be shocked to not see him back in 2012.

The Saints should be able to bring Roby back at a reasonable price, and he is well worth whatever it costs.

K John Kasay

Kicker John Kasay has performed well this season for the Saints.

He was signed whenever Garrett Hartley injured himself in the preseason, and the Saints were lucky to find such a reliable kicker.

Kasay has been great on short-range field goals and perfect on extra points this season, but he does not have the leg to kick 50-plus-yard field goals. That is not an insult to Kasay; he is just past his prime.

I expect the Saints to let Kasay go after this season if Hartley's recovery has gone as planned. With his performance in 2011, another team may be willing to give Kasay a shot next season.

WR Marques Colston

This is another player that the Saints will do everything they can to bring back.

Colston may be the single-most important weapon for Drew Brees and the Saints offense. Colston missed two games this season, but still caught 80 balls for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns.

He has shown time and time again this season that he can catch the difficult passes over the middle on third downs and make the deep grabs 30 yards downfield. Colston is the all-around best receiver for the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints will have to dish out big checks to Brees and Carl Nicks, but Colston will also get one himself. It may come through the franchise tag, but if Colston doesn't get a high-dollar extension this offseason, then he definitely will next year.

Regardless of the way it happens, Colston will be a Saint in 2012; that much is guaranteed.