How the New Orleans Saints Are Pulling Off Big Moves Despite Salary Cap Struggles: A Deep Dive into Their Latest Signings

The New Orleans Saints have made significant moves during the 2025 offseason, improving their defensive and offensive units despite facing a major salary cap dilemma. On Thursday, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport revealed that the Saints had secured cornerback Isaac Yiadom on a three-year, $9 million deal, which includes $4.86 million in guaranteed money and could rise to a maximum value of $10.5 million. This deal is just one of several notable signings the team has made in recent weeks, leaving many fans and analysts wondering how New Orleans is managing to make such moves despite their financial constraints.

The Saints’ Salary Cap Conundrum

Prior to the start of free agency, the New Orleans Saints found themselves in a precarious position—nearly $40 million over the salary cap, according to ESPN. In a league where teams are required to stay within the salary cap, this was a significant challenge. Yet, despite this financial obstacle, the Saints have managed to sign a variety of players, including C Will Clapp, TE Jack Stoll, TE Juwan Johnson, S Justin Reid, WR Dante Pettis, DE Chase Young, and now CB Isaac Yiadom.

So how have they done it?

Creative Cap Management: The Saints’ Financial Strategies

The key to the Saints’ offseason moves has been their ability to manipulate the salary cap through creative financial strategies. These strategies include restructuring contracts, converting base salaries to signing bonuses, and extending deals to spread out cap hits over several years. These maneuvers allow the team to free up immediate cap space while keeping long-term flexibility.

Restructuring Contracts and Extending Deals

One of the most common tactics employed by the Saints is contract restructuring. By converting a portion of a player’s base salary into a signing bonus, the Saints are able to spread out the cap hit over the life of the contract, thus reducing the immediate cap burden. This has allowed the team to sign multiple players while simultaneously managing their financial limitations.

Additionally, the Saints have been known to extend contracts of key players, which again helps to spread out the cap hit and free up more space in the short term. These extensions not only keep their core players locked in but also provide a way to manage salary cap space more effectively.

Cap Flexibility Through Strategic Cuts and Trades

Another significant factor in the Saints’ cap strategy is their ability to make tough cuts and trade players with large contracts in order to create more room. Over the years, the team has made several bold decisions, including parting ways with high-priced veterans and trading away players who no longer fit into the team’s long-term plans. This creates cap flexibility and allows the Saints to sign younger players who might be under the radar or more affordable.

Risk vs. Reward: Paying for Talent While Managing the Future

The Saints’ approach to cap management is not without risk. While they’ve been able to sign several talented players, their long-term financial flexibility remains uncertain. The salary cap will inevitably catch up with them, and they will have to manage these contracts carefully to avoid significant issues in the future.

However, for the Saints, the current window of opportunity to build a strong team is critical. With their roster becoming more competitive in key areas, including the secondary and pass rush, the team is making moves now to be successful in the upcoming seasons. If they can manage their finances carefully, the risks they’re taking now could pay off.

The New Signings: How They Improve the Saints’ Roster

Despite their financial struggles, the Saints have made several notable signings, including Isaac Yiadom, who brings valuable experience to the cornerback position. The addition of Yiadom helps bolster the Saints’ secondary, which has been a weak spot in recent years. His physicality and coverage skills will be crucial as the Saints look to improve against the passing game in 2025.

Other signings, such as Chase Young, a former defensive rookie of the year with the Washington Football Team, strengthen the defensive line. Justin Reid and Juwan Johnson also add depth to the secondary and tight end positions, respectively.

These additions, alongside the signings of Will Clapp and Jack Stoll, provide the Saints with improved depth and talent across multiple positions, which will be vital for their 2025 campaign.

The Future: Will the Saints’ Strategy Pay Off?

While the Saints have successfully maneuvered around their salary cap limitations for now, the long-term question remains: Will this strategy pay off? It’s clear that the team is building toward a championship window, but the financial ramifications of these deals will have to be considered carefully in the years to come.

The Saints have often been viewed as cap wizards, and their ability to pull off key signings while working under significant financial constraints continues to impress. However, as they move forward, they will need to strike a balance between short-term success and long-term stability. Managing a tight cap situation while keeping a competitive roster is no easy task, but if the Saints’ front office can continue to execute their strategy effectively, they could remain a contender in the NFC for the foreseeable future.

: The Saints’ Bold Approach to Free Agency

The New Orleans Saints have done what many thought was impossible by making major free-agent signings despite being $40 million over the salary cap. Through creative financial strategies, including contract restructuring and smart cuts, the team has managed to improve its roster for the 2025 season. With new additions like Isaac Yiadom, Chase Young, and Justin Reid, the Saints have made their intentions clear—they’re not going to let financial obstacles get in the way of building a winning team.

Now, the Saints must hope that these bold moves pay off on the field, as they look to contend in the NFC while managing their financial future. If they can continue to balance their salary cap with roster upgrades, they may just have the formula for long-term success.