Saints Reportedly Lose Free Agent Luke Fortner to NFC South Rival

Fortner intends to sign a one-year deal with the Panthers, according to Pelissero. The deal is expected to be worth $4.75 million.

Fortner, 27, played in all 17 games in 2025, starting in ten of those games at center. He served as the main replacement for Erik McCoy, who suffered a torn biceps in Week 7.

In the ten games that Fortner started, he allowed three sacks and had just three penalties, also allowing an impressive 11 total pressures. He served as the anchor in the interior of the New Orleans offensive line.

Fortner's departure isn't shocking. He would lack opportunities when McCoy is healthy. The Saints also made it clear that Fortner wouldn't play at guard in the future, either, when they signed David Edwards to a four-year, $61 million deal on the first day of the NFL's legal negotiation window. By allowing Fortner to walk, New Orleans is betting heavily on McCoy’s availability and the development of younger, cheaper talent currently on the roster.

Joining a division rival on a nearly $5 million deal suggests that the Panthers saw enough on the Saints' 2025 tape to believe he is a starting-caliber asset. Carolina has also made plenty of moves through the first two days of free agency.

For a New Orleans front office famously tight against the salary cap, matching that price point for a "insurance policy" simply wasn't feasible. The team must now pivot toward the draft or the secondary wave of free agency to a versatile interior lineman who can provide the same peace of mind Fortner offered.