New Orleans Saints Sign Top Undrafted Gem Michael Heldman

The New Orleans Saints may have found the best hidden gem in the 2026 NFL Draft class...even though he wasn't drafted.

Every year, at the end of the draft process, NFL teams are immediately able to negotiate and sign with any draft-eligible player who was not selected during the 7 rounds of the process. These are called 'undrafted free agents' (UFA), and they can carry big value to them.

It can be argued that the UFA window is just as important as the first round of the NFL Draft, because if you hit on a player here, the investment was much less than it was with that top pick. Which might sound ludicrous, until you see how many Hall of Fame caliber players were undrafted free agents. Names like Night Train Lane, Priest Holmes, Tony Romo, Drew Pearson, Jason Peters, James Harrison, Antonio Gates, John Randle, and of course...Kurt Warner.

So do the Saints have a an uncut gem in their UDA class this year?

What Are The Saints Trying To Fix Right Now?

The biggest issue that the Saints are facing over the next season is going to be on the defensive line. Well, honestly...it's the whole defense. Because the Saints are running out of time on players that they have been counting on to produce.

As some reporters have phrased it, the Saints have '...put every Saints defender's job on the line in 2026." That means names like Bryan Bresee and Kool-Aid McKinstry need to justify their draft investment, and fast. Chase Young and Pete Werner need to justify their signings, quickly. Guys like Kaden Ellis and Christen Miller need to show that they want to contribute to this team.

The Saints need help on defense, whether that comes from the names already on the roster, or something they need to add...they need to get better.

While other teams are trying to find a few depth pieces, the New Orleans Saints might be trying to add a legit front-line rotation player with their undrafted signings...and they might have hit one.

Why The Saints May Have Found The Best Undrafted Free Agent in 2026

Which is why the Saints might have landed on the best name in the 2026 undrafted free agent class. Because this guy's freak athletic skills are going to meet the Saints biggest need.

We're talking about Central Michigan edge rusher Michael Heldman.

Heldman put in some insane pre-draft numbers, including a near perfect Relative Athletic Score, or RAS, with his workout numbers. The only place Heldman was lacking in the RAS system was in height and weight. His strength, speed, and explosiveness put him in the top tier across the board.

Finding a freak athlete that's testing an an elite level in the UDA pool is not normal. So having a guy with that skillset fit your exact need could mean big things...for both Heldman and the Saints.

Sure, Heldman played at Central Michigan, against MAC opponents for most of his career. But don't sleep on the MAC producing great NFL talent. Hall of Fame players Jason Taylor and Jack Lambert came from the MAC. Defensive Player of the Year winners James Harrison, Khalil Mack, and JJ Watt all played in the MAC. There's also plenty of Hall of Fame offensive talent to be seen in the MAC too...like Randy Moss and Ben Roethlisberger. Plus Pro Bowl offensive names like Antonio Brown, Joe Staley, Eric Fisher, and Michael Turner.

Heldman has a chance to catch on, and become another big name MAC defender in today's NFL, right next to Maxx Crosby, who played at Eastern Michigan. Who interestingly, has roughly the same body type and athletic scores that Heldman has.

In fact, if we want to take it a step further...against the same type of competition in college, Heldman and Crosby has similar stats. Crosby ended his college career with 41 tackles for loss, 20 sacks, and 8 forced fumbles. Heldman's numbers were 34 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles. During their final college seasons, Crosby had 19 tackles for loss and Heldman 16.5, Crosby had 7.5 sacks and Heldman had 10.5, Crosby had 3 pass deflections and Heldman had 4.

We're not saying Heldman is Maxx Crosby...but if the Saints could find 75% of Maxx Crosby in an undrafted free agent, they better keep him.