It appears the New Orleans Saints have prevented one of their stars from hitting free agency.

That’s wide receiver Marques Colston, who, according to ESPN's John Clayton, has agreed to a five-year deal to remain with the team that drafted him. Clayton reports the total value of the deal is almost $40 million with $19 million guaranteed.

That’s a big coup for the Saints, who are facing serious salary-cap challenges. But it brings up another big question: Do the Saints have enough room to also re-sign All-Pro guard Carl Nicks?

The team reportedly made what Nicks called a “respectable’’ offer Monday night. But there is no word yet if Nicks has accepted a deal. If he doesn’t, he becomes a free agent at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

No matter what happens with Nicks, expect plenty of news out of New Orleans as the day goes on. The Saints are likely to release some prominent players (there’s speculation linebacker Jonathan Vilma could be one) to free up more salary-cap space.