All signs point to Klint Kubiak putting pen to paper and being hired as the next New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator after his San Francisco 49ers are finished competing in Super Bowl LVIII — but he might not be the only new addition coming to New Orleans from San Francisco.
Beyond possible pickups from the 49ers coaching staff, there are several pending free agents who could intrigue the Saints. Here are 10 players on offense whose contracts are up in the spring, and who might follow Kubiak to New Orleans in free agency:
1
OL Jon Feliciano
A former fourth-round draft pick by the Raiders, Feliciano played with Derek Carr for four years before leaving for a starting gig with the Buffalo Bills. He’s developed into a quality backup at all three interior line positions and has had his best season as a pro with the 49ers this year, starting multiple games at both guard spots and snapping the ball himself from center (where he started the entire 2022 campaign on the New York Giants). He would be an upgrade over backups like Max Garcia and Cameron Erving despite his age (he’ll turn 32 next week) and injury history.
2
WR Jauan Jennings
Jennings has done a lot of dirty work in the 49ers offense — he’s an impressive blocker for a wide receiver who creates opportunities for his teammates. He’s capable of making a play with the ball in his hands, too, though, averaging 4.4 yards after the catch per reception (more than both Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed). He hasn’t been much of a scoring threat since his 2021 rookie year (catching 5 touchdown passes) but he’s posted modest receiving totals of 483 and 334 yards the last two years while playing in the shadow of big names like Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey. Jennings is a restricted free agent so the 49ers could match any offers he sees in free agency.
3
TE Charlie Woerner
Woerner isn’t asked to catch many passes but he has a lot of experience executing the blocking assignments the Saints are hoping to import to New Orleans. He’s also a big player on special teams — no one has logged more snaps in the kicking game for San Francisco than Woerner in each of the last three years.
4
QB Sam Darnold
Darnold has found a good gig backing up Brock Purdy, but he could be an option for the Saints if they move on from Jameis Winston but want an experienced veteran backing up Derek Carr instead of Jake Haener.
5
OL Ben Bartch
Bartch spent most of the year (and his first three seasons in the NFL) with the Jacksonville Jaguars before the 49ers signed him off Jacksonville’s practice squad late in 2023. He’s played all three interior line spots and would make sense as someone with familiarity in the offense to bring into training camp and compete for a roster spot.
6
WR Ray-Ray McCloud
McCloud has mainly focused on kick returns in his two years with San Francisco, though he’s made some nice plays after the catch here and there. The Saints only have three receivers under contract for 2024 — Chris Olave, A.T. Perry, and Michael Thomas, who will likely be released and replaced by exclusive-rights free agent Rashid Shaheed. McCloud knows the offense and the Saints need enough players to run drills at training camp.
7
WR Chris Conley
As is the case with some other receivers on this list, Conley is an experienced pro who knows what’s expected in the Shanahan system. It would make sense for the Saints to look at players like him while filling out their 90-man offseason roster.
8
TE Ross Dwelley
Dwelley has been with the 49ers for a long time — he signed with them as an undrafted rookie back in 2018. He’s also closing in on 1,200 career special teams snaps with the team. He’s an option to fill out the roster for training camp.
9
OL Matt Pryor
Pryor was a late-season pickup but he’s been a healthy scratch for most of his time in San Francisco. He has starting experience at a couple of different spots (left tackle, right guard, and right tackle, also playing a full game at left guard back in 2020) though he’s not someone you’d want in the starting lineup, or maybe even coming in off the bench. But every team needs depth.
10
QB Brandon Allen
Allen could make sense for the Saints if they want a veteran to push Jake Haener for the backup job. He’s been in the league since 2016 (as a former sixth-round draft pick by the Jaguars) and spent a lot of time in the Sean McVay offense. He was with the Los Angeles Rams from 2017 to 2018 and joined the Zac Taylor-led Cincinnati Bengals spinoff for 2021 and 2022. He knows the system as well as anyone and could be a good resource for both Haener and Derek Carr.
