The 2024 NFL Draft is set to start Thursday evening, April 25. With all eyes focused on the prospects that are about to be welcomed to the NFL, the league has put a de facto pause on free agency. There haven’t been many players signing with new teams, despite the fact that there are still a ton of big names available.

During this time of the year, teams go into the draft and address as many needs as they can. However, everyone knows that a team won’t be able to adequately address all its needs in a single draft. That’s why once the three-day draft concludes, the free agency market heats back up. Teams turn to the remaining veterans to fill any remaining holes on their roster.

Some of those big names are former New Orleans Saints players. Guys like Michael Thomas, Andrus Peat, and Marcus Maye will all have to wait along with everyone else.

Michael Thomas, Andrus Peat, and Marcus Maye will likely sign after the NFL Draft

Michael Thomas is the biggest name of all of New Orleans’ free agents this offseason. The wide receiver, who dominated the league since entering in 2016, became a free agent this offseason after eight years with the Saints. However, his market has been pretty quiet. Aside from being recruited by Tyreek Hill, Thomas hasn’t been linked to many teams. If teams don’t get the receivers they want in the draft, Thomas could be joining a new franchise in the coming weeks.

Andrus Peat came to New Orleans a year before Thomas, and has thrived on the offensive line since then. Last season, when the Saints found themselves in a bind, Peat bumped from guard to tackle and provided sold left tackle play. Now, he’s a free agent and hasn’t signed with any team yet. He did have a visit with the Tennessee Titans, but no deal was made. There’s also the possibility that he could return to New Orleans if the Saints don’t get the linemen they want in the draft.

Then there’s Marcus Maye, who was thrown into a deep group of free agent safeties when the Saints released him with one year remaining on his contract. Like Peat, he had a visit with the Titans, but nothing materialized. He’ll likely find his home after teams miss out on safety prospects that they have circled.