2026 is going to bring some big-name free agents to the forefront for the New Orleans Saints, with some truly key players set to hit the market. One of the most notable of the bunch is linebacker Demario Davis, who continues to churn out outstanding numbers year-after-year without showing any signs of regression.
Considering the dead cap hit that would be associated with Davis if he were to leave this offseason, odds are he will return, and he has made it clear that he does want to play in 2026. The discussions surrounding his return to New Orleans will no doubt have already started between him, the front office, and his agent. But will he?
Pro Football Focus writer Bradley Locker recently put out a piece detailing one free agent every NFL team cannot afford to lose, and for the Saints, that player was Davis, as he provided some compelling justification for a re-signing.
The Saints overcame an inauspicious beginning to win four of their last five games and display real optimism heading into 2026. Even though Davis is one of the oldest linebackers in the league, he had a big say in that success.
The 37-year-old was still a presence in the middle of New Orleans’ impressive defense, compiling an 80.3 PFF overall grade with an 88.9 PFF run-defense grade. Even though coverage is no longer Davis’ forte, he still held up solidly with a 68.3 PFF coverage mark.
Davis has seemed like an every-year trade candidate on bottom-dwelling Saints teams. But with New Orleans now trying to improve for the short- and long-term, keeping the elder statesman in house should be the team’s goal.
One of the most fascinating points Locker made was regarding the run defense component of Davis’ game, as that was a major issue for the Saints all year. However, Davis was able to truly keep the top on that defense in many instances, holding things together behind an interior defensive line that struggled immensely against the run game for a decent chunk of the season.
Having to put up a career high in tackles with 143 tells part of the story, with another component being him tying the lowest blitz count of his career at only 26 plays. The team utilized him as a true off-ball linebacker through and through, forcing him into coverage a decent amount, which saw his numbers dip in success in that regard, despite fewer targets than in previous years.
Frankly, getting him back for one more year and allowing Danny Stutsman to take over the reps from Pete Werner, or at least 50/50 splitting them, would be a beneficial way to handle things. Davis deserves the opportunity to play out another season here, and his veteran presence is something the Saints should not be looking to move on from too early. With that said, it will be interesting to see how things play out in this scenario and whether or not the two sides come to an agreement soon.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: PFF: Why Saints must re-sign 37-year old linebacker Demario Davis