New Orleans Saints sign OLB Fadil Diggs

The New Orleans Saints' signing of OLB Fadil Diggs earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a cost-controlled depth add that lands squarely in the middle tier—neither a steal nor an overpay. At $1.05M AAV against a $4.2M total commitment, this is a replacement-level contract befitting a reserve pass rusher likely destined for depth or special-teams rotation, not a foundational piece for a roster that finished 6-11 and sitting at the #13 seed. The salary floor—well below market for even mid-tier starters at the position—suggests the Saints are treating this as a low-risk, low-ceiling signing designed to add bodies ahead of the regular season without sacrificing cap flexibility. From a value standpoint, the deal works: if Diggs produces at the level this price point implies, the Saints get exactly what they're paying for; if he doesn't, the financial drag is minimal and easily washable. The real question isn't whether the Saints got a bargain—they didn't—but whether a player at this salary tier can meaningfully improve a pass rush that struggled in a down year, or whether this is simply organizational triage during the offseason grind.