It’s no secret that the New Orleans Saints were not big spenders in free agency. They had to race to reach salary cap compliance from a $100 million deficit, leaving them with little resources to commit to improving their squad. Of the players they did sign only a select few joined the black and gold for more than a minimum salary.

Still, the Saints were able to add a number of new faces despite those financial limitations. Some of them (Tanoh Kpassagnon and Bradley Roby) made a greater impression than others (Austin Reiter and Prince Amukamara), who were only around long enough to get a cup of coffee. Here are how the top 15 Saints pickups have fared at the bye week:

FB Alex Armah Jr. 

Oct 10, 2021; Landover, Maryland, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alex Armah (40) shakes hands with fans while leaving the field after the game against the Washington Football Team at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans’ very first free agent signing has been serviceable, but he’s played more snaps on special teams (37) than on offense (28). He’s only had two carries, gaining seven yards, but converted a first down on both tries. He’s also run eight routes but has yet to receive a target. It’s about what you’d expect from someone on a veteran’s minimum contract.

WR Kenny Stills

Oct 3, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Kenny Stills (12) looks on against New York Giants during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Not counting the 46-yard dime he caught from Jameis Winston from a touchdown, Stills has gone 3-of-8 as a receiver for a mere 34 yards. But he hasn’t dropped a pass and he’s converted two first downs on those looks. His ability and role is clear (his average depth of target is 21.3 yards downfield), and he should benefit once better players return to the top of the depth chart.

WR Chris Hogan

Oct 3, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) pushes New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Hogan (80) out of bounds during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Hogan has given high-effort reps every time he’s gotten on the field, which is really all you can ask from him at this point in his career. He’s caught 4 of the 6 passes sent his way without a single drop, gaining 41 yards and scoring a Week 1 touchdown. He’s logged 25 snaps on special teams against 68 snaps on offense. Like Stills, he’s provided modest return on a minimum salary.

DE Tanoh Kpassagnon

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) fumbles the ball after being hit by New Orleans Saints linebacker Tanoh Kpassagnon (90) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)

Easily the most impactful player the Saints signed in free agency, Kpassagnon has an argument to make as one of the steals of the summer across the NFL given his contract value (two years, $4.5 million). He’s created a pair of sacks, a batted pass, and 10 pressures across four games while playing all across the Saints defensive front.

DT Montravius Adams

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Montravius Adams Sr., stretches along side teammates during an NFL football practice at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Adams is one of a couple veterans the Saints have worked into their interior line cycle, creating just one pressure and a batted pass through two games. He’s shown better anchor than some of the younger players New Orleans has tried out but he should be supplanted once David Onyemata returns to the lineup in a few weeks.

DT Albert Huggins

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AUGUST 23: Albert Huggins #95 of the New Orleans Saints looks on during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Caesars Superdome on August 23, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Huggins was another bargain-bin pickup back around rookie minicamps, and while he’s been slightly more disruptive than some of his peers he hasn’t done much more than occupy blocks. Right now that’s all the Saints need him to do, but he’ll have to start making plays instead of just creating opportunities for others to hang around.

DE Jalyn Holmes

Sep 19, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) score a touchdown as (57) and defensive tackle Ryan Glasgow (95) defend New Orleans Saints defensive end Jalyn Holmes in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Signed earlier this season after injuries limited Marcus Davenport and Payton Turner (and, briefly, Kpassagnon), Holmes only saw a dozen snaps in one game but didn’t make much of a case for more looks. He doesn’t play special teams, either, so it feels like his audition will be short-lived once Davenport returns from injured reserve.

S Jeff Heath

New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner (20) and strong safety Jeff Heath (38) cover in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)

Heath signed with the Saints late in training camp and made a quick impression on special teams, where he’s played the majority of his reps in black and gold. Of the 79 total snaps he’s played all but 9 came in the kicking game (in Week 1’s blowout win), and on four different units — kick return and coverage, plus punt return and coverage. He’s been an upgrade over D.J. Swearinger as an experienced reserve.

CB Bradley Roby

Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold is sacked by New Orleans Saints’ Bradley Roby during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

So I’ll lump Roby in even though the Saints acquired him in a trade, not as a free agent signing. He’s totaled 84 snaps since joining the team (all but two on defense), rotating in and out of games with Paulson Adebo occasionally but mainly taking P.J. Williams’ role as the dime back. 34% of his defensive snaps have seen him line up over the slot. He’s been thrown at four times, allowing three catches for 32 receiving yards. He’ll get his turn if the rookie hits a skid, but so far the youngster has played well enough to keep a proven No. 2 corner below him on the depth chart.

CB Desmond Trufant

New Orleans Saints cornerback Desmond Trufant walks on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Trufant was the first veteran corner brought in after Ken Crawley’s preseason injury, and he played well on very limited snaps. He was targeted four times and only yielded two receptions for 19 yards, also breaking up another pass. But with the Saints’ improved depth at the position he was released so he could catch on with another squad. There’s a very valid argument in favor of keeping him on the practice squad once Crawley returns, but he may have preferred to go explore other options in search of playing-time.

CB Brian Poole

New Orleans Saints cornerback Brian Poole (33) reaches out for a one handed catch during NFL football training camp in Metairie, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)

Poole played well enough in preseason to earn a roster spot and compete for snaps as the dime back, but a last-minute hamstring injury cut his time in New Orleans short. He spent the first five weeks on the injured reserve list before agreeing to an injury settlement and release, which makes him a free agent again. Like Trufant, he can try out for other teams with little opportunities to get on the field with the Saints.

G J.R. Sweezy

Sep 20, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman J.R. Sweezy (64) against the Washington Football Team at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints brought Sweezy into training camp on a minimum salary in hopes that he could compete for a backup spot, but he couldn’t hang with younger players like Will Clapp and Calvin Throckmorton. And he opted to remain a free agent after the team cut him and tried to sign him to the practice squad. If he had chosen otherwise, maybe he would have gotten on the field again after injuries sidelined Clapp and Erik McCoy, putting Throckmorton into the lineup. There’s certainly a case for deciding that, if you as a 117-game veteran have to practice and work out and keep your body right, that you should be getting to play on Sundays.

TE Nick Vannett

New Orleans Saints tight end Nick Vannett (81) watches practice during NFL football training camp in Metairie, La,. Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)

Vannett landed a three-year, $8 million contract with the Saints but was cut down by a preseason knee injury that kept him out of action longer than expected. Hopefully he will return after the bye week and provide a boost as the primary blocking tight end, replacing Garrett Griffin and freeing up Adam Trautman for assignments better suited to his skills set. Sean Payton has suggested Vannett has upside as a receiver but he’s had little success in that role in the NFL so far.

RB Devonta Freeman

Aug 23, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Devonta Freeman (34) walks to the locker room after the game against Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Another veteran’s minimum signee, Freeman didn’t show much during training camp and preseason despite getting a lot of run from the coaching staff. He was released during final roster cuts and eventually landed with the Baltimore Ravens. Signing him was the definition of a low-risk move for the Saints but it just didn’t pan out.

K Brett Maher, Aldrick Rosas, and Cody Parkey

Sep 26, 2021; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New Orleans Saints place kicker Aldrick Rosas (6) reacts after missing a field goal against the New England Patriots during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

A significantly riskier decision was bringing in a carousel of kickers of dubious provenance, each of whom have either been cut for ineptitude or lost to injuries during pregame warmups. The Saints knew they’d be without Wil Lutz for much of the season’s early months and tried to skirt the issue with bargain bin projects rather than paying up for a better candidate. Hopefully Lutz can return sooner rather than later.