CBS Sports: Saints kept more top-100 talent than they lost in free agency

There are criticisms to make about the New Orleans Saints' activity early on in the free agency period, but it would be hard to say that they have become a much worse team than they were last year.

Taking a look back at CBS Sports' Top 100 ranking of NFL free agents, the Saints had three players on the list entering free agency. They re-signed two and lost one, but made up for it by signing another top 100-rated player away from another team.

Here is how all of New Orleans' activity in the top 100 panned out this offseason:

S Justin Reid, No. 16: Signed

The good news for the Saints is that the top player on this list is someone that they signed. In a somewhat surprising move, New Orleans gave Reid three years, $31.5 million to come back home and roam the secondary.

Safety was a big need and Reid was the second-highest rated player available in free agency. He will also be better than anyone they could have added in the draft, so it was a solid move if they plan to contend.

All of the worry about this deal comes with the baggage that virtually no one around the national media landscape expects them to compete this year, which would make it an interesting move.

CB Paulson Adebo, No. 33: Lost

Adebo wanted more money and a bigger market than what New Orleans was going to be willing to offer him, so he joined the New York Giants on a three-year, $54 million contract.

While the team as a whole hasn't gotten noticeable worse this offseason, the cornerback room has. That seems to be the biggest need heading into the draft, where the Saints will need to restart.

When healthy, Adebo is one of the best cornerbacks in the sport of football. It will be a noticeable loss. He was the seventh-ranked corner on the top 100 list.

DE Chase Young, No. 45: Signed to extension

The Saints acted quickly to bring back Young after an at least solid first season with the team. The results were confusing as he did generate a lot of pressure, but still failed to bring the quarterback down much. At worst, it wasn't a bad season.

The 25-year-old defensive end seems to like it in New Orleans and he got a fair amount of money to stay there.

While defensive end is still a need in the draft, it would have been a much, much larger need had he departed to another team. He was the fourth-highest ranked player at his position on the list.

TE Juwan Johnson, No. 70: Signed to extension

This was another move that was on the more surprising side. The evaluation on Johnson varies widely from person to person, but it has been clear that he hasn't reached his peak in the Saints offense.

Despite that, and the fact that New Orleans has needed more out of the position for years, they decided to stick together for three more years and $30.75 million.

The 28-year-old could still end up putting together a solid season, but both of the tight ends ahead of him on the top 100 got less money.