AP

It’s almost time for free agency to get underway, which means we’re closing in on the one-year anniversary of safety Jairus Byrd’s arrival in New Orleans.

Byrd signed a six-year, $54 million deal with the Saints early in free agency, a move that the team hoped would boost their defense to a level that would help them make a playoff run. Things didn’t quite work out that way. Byrd missed time in the offseason after back surgery, struggled along with the rest of the defense in the first month of the season and then was done for the season after four games because of a torn meniscus.

They’d like a better showing the second time around and it would start with Byrd being fully healthy. That’s expected shortly, according to coach Sean Payton.

“He’s doing well,” Payton said, via Jen Hale of FOXSports New Orleans. “His rehab is on schedule. He’ll be cleared for minicamp. We’re looking at about 2 or 3 weeks from him being 100 percent.”

The Saints have some work to do to get their cap in shape for the start of the new league year and it’s unclear how much they can add to the roster even after they make those moves, a situation that makes a full return from last year’s big-ticket addition all the more important.