The current state of the Saints is in desperate need of help on the offensive side of the ball. The first year of life after Drew Brees didn’t go as expected but with everything that the team faced, to end up 9-8 the is outstanding. Four quarterbacks, no Michael Thomas with inexperienced guys at receiver is just the starting idea of what the Saints went through.
The Saints need to plan on making a big splash in free agency and providing the defense with some help on the other side. The Saints are in a win or bust mindset, they want a ring now and in order to accomplish that the front office has to pull some strings and get Super Bowl caliber players in a Saints uniform. Rely on both skill and the scheme, not an undrafted player out of Texas to execute the scheme.
Every position will require different resumes for anyone who is wanting to join/sign with the Saints. Some will require a more experienced guy and a veteran leader who’s been in the league for a while and knows how to lead a team on and off the field on an NFL level. Others will look at just getting talent whether it’s from a young guy or veteran guy who brings swag to the team. Each position will require different aspects as to what the team and front office is looking for.
Quarterback, the most important thing the Saints need to address this offseason is quarterback. This would be one of those positions where the Saints evaluate their options and say that a veteran and experienced guy needs to be here. Not a rookie, but someone who knows how to run an NFL system.
The team is in a win now mindset and that starts with the quarterback position. The front office is gonna be looking and evaluating the best and all options for the team. That could mean that Jameis Winston comes back as the starter or the team could look into trading for someone. Russell Wilson is a name that’s popped up quite a bit over the past year as a possible option for the Saints. There is also Aaron Rodgers, but the way things are going I wouldn’t think Rodgers goes anywhere. Those should be the top three options for the Saints as the offseason approaches, it’s Jamies, Wilson, or Rodgers.
Obviously the front office will dive deeper into the quarterback position around the league and see who could fit in their offensive scheme and what their trying to do. Asking questions like who can be a guy who can be relied on rather than the guy relying on others to do the dirty work. As much as some may disagree or dislike this, the Saints could look into guys like Jimmy G or Baker Mayfield with the possibility of Derek Carr. Two of those three guys would be in the category of relying on others instead of relied on, but the Saints are going to look at every option and those guys will probably be available to some degree this offseason. Does the team look into an explosive big play quarterback or dive into a game manager to wins due to scheme? These are things the Saints front office has to ask and evaluate as they figure out who they want to pursue.
Of course there is Deshaun Watson, but that’s a situation that is just unsettled. The Texans still have a high asking price for Watson and that’s something the team doesn’t have the capability of trading for. Once the offseason officially starts we’ll get a better idea of who’s available and who isn’t.
Wide receiver, I wrote about five candidates the Saints should target at the receiver position the other day (click here to read). It’s just a position that needs help. A solid number two receiver is needed, someone with skill and someone who is young and can make a difference in an NFL offense. A game changer next to another game changer in Michael Thomas. The team will go into free agency and hopefully look at some guys like Christian Kirk and Odell, but as to if they aggressively pursue those kinds of guys like they did when Odell was a free agent, I’m not sure.
They’ll definitely sign a more under the radar to above average guy but not someone who will be a game changer, if they want someone to make a difference in the offense they’ll take a deep look at the draft class. I’m not saying they won’t get a guy like Christian Kirk, but what I am saying is that they won’t be aggressive to get him when they know that they could get Chris Olave or Jameson Williams in the draft. With that being said, I would love to see Christian Kirk on the Saints.
Now if the team only goes after one guy, having someone like Callaway as the third receiver isn’t a terrible idea. He showed a ton of promise in the second half of the season. Getting the experience over the season and developing into his own was critical for how he develops this offseason and how the team approaches his role.
A year filled with struggles at the skill position the team knows that the scheme can’t and won’t work always. Talent is needed to make the scheme work. Target guys in the draft or look deeply into the receiver market in free agency and be aggressive.
Offensive line, after years of being the strength of the team, the offensive line needs help. Terron is probably out and after seeing the offensive line deal with nothing but injuries in 2021, depth is needed badly. In the past when guys were out guys like James Hurst would come in and provide solid games as a pass protector and run blocker, but the team didn’t have that this season.
If Terron goes, getting a tackle in the draft wouldn’t be the worst thing within the first two rounds, unless the team has plans for Landon Young or James Hurst to take over while having Ramczyk be a flexible player playing left or right tackle. I see the Saints targeting the younger group of players on the offensive line, so they’ll draft a guy or go for a UDFA. In free agency they’ll target some guys who may not have the most experience but they have high upside, guys like James Hurst.
Tight end, a position with a lot of young players who could use the presence of a veteran player at the position. Adam Trautman showed some promise at moments and showed some disappointment, but with some veteran leadership and assistance from another tight end other than Nick Vannett would be huge for the development of Trautman and how the offense functions as a whole. It’s been a talking point for the past few offseasons, but a reunion with Jimmy Graham wouldn’t be the worst thing and would work out for guys like Trautman and Juwan. Getting guys like David Njoku, Max Williams, or Gerald Everett could be some cheaper options who could have a chance to do bigger things in New Orleans rather than anywhere else.
Defensive tackle, the only weakness the defense has right now is the interior defensive line. Even then it’s not that weak due to how Dennis Allen uses his guys in different schemes and game plans. The team has David Onyemata as the main guy of the interior line. However, the interior line could not get any pressure without Onyemata when his suspension was being served.
Outside of Onyemata there are guys like Shy Tuttle, Christian Ringo, Albert Huggins but those guys aren’t a valid number two inside pass rusher/run stuffer. Securing a solid defensive tackle two to play on the Saints defensive line would be lethal and unfortunate for opposing teams offensive lines. The Saints will look for run stuffing defensive tackles and going after a guy like Tim Settle would be a good move. Solid run stuffing availability and when given opportunities can make a disturbance as a pass rusher. Another guy is B.J Hill who could be an option.
The team won’t and I doubt they go after a big name defensive tackle, that’s not how they work. They’d much rather go for one in the draft around the third or fourth round and if it wa s a huge position of need then the second or first round (please no).
The Saints need help, this offseason is the perfect time to get it. Lots of opportunities to improve the team and get a better for the 2022 season.
Written By Kadin Janisch
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