The current state of the Saints isn’t to rebuild, but rather to restructure. The team is now looking for a new head coach and for their next quarterback. The team in terms of head coaching, is by far the most attractive for coaches looking for a job due to the roster and winning culture built around the team that Sean Payton’s legacy is leaving behind.
With the team in search of both quarterback and head coach it will be interesting to see/think of the pitch that the Saints make to these teams/players now that Payton is gone. Guys want to play for Sean Payton, that’s a big reason why going for a franchise quarterback this offseason was on the table and likely. Without Payton however, the team is gonna have to keep all options on the table.
That makes resigning Jameis Winston a higher priority for the team. Sean loved Jameis and Jameis loved Sean, but would Winston want to play for the Saints without him when he could possibly play for Mike Tomlin instead? The advantage and leverage the Saints have over these other teams in terms of signing Jameis Winston is the chemistry and time spent with the team. He had the team at 5-2 without his number one guy, his center, right guard, and left tackle for significant time. The approach that the team has at quarterback has significantly changed now without Payton, which is why being aggressive with keeping Jameis Winston has increased significantly.
They’re still looking for the next guy, but getting the next guy in a trade or free agency will be challenging and difficult without the biggest attraction point on the team for the past 16 years. Getting a guy like Jameis could secure a competitive team and quarterback position until they find the next guy, who knows maybe he is the next guy. Nobody knows. Resigning Jameis isn’t a guarantee and I’m not saying he will start next season.
Trading up in the draft to get Kenny Pickett or drafting a quarterback in general has an increased chance of happening now without Payton. Getting guys like Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers wanting to play in New Orleans is a hard pitch to sell without the mind of Sean Payton. The Saints may want Russell Wilson but does Wilson want the Saints? The whole approach to quarterback has changed drastically for the team. Since the rumors of Wilson wanting to go to the Saints starting last offseason, would he even think about playing on a Saints team without Sean Payton? That desire to play in New Orleans could no longer be there.
There’s the scenario where Brian Flores becomes the head coach, a heavy push for Deshaun Watson is on the table if that becomes the case. There are a lot more outcomes at quarterback now that Sean Payton is no longer with the team; Before it felt like this offseason would be Wilson, Rodgers, or Winston at quarterback. Nobody else would really get a shot. Now it feels like the Saints will keep all options on the table and that does include keeping track of Jimmy G, Baker Mayfield, and Derek Carr situations as the offseason progresses, calling about almost every quarterback in the league to see their availability. Teddy Bridgewater is someone the team can look into, although there were rumors he would ask for a lot of money and the team can’t pay Teddy a lot when Jameis could provide a much better job.
If Dennis Allen becomes the head coach it’s almost certain that they’ll call about Derek Carr. He drafted him, and he’s fully capable of getting a team to the playoffs. They’ll call about almost every quarterback just to explore their options, but Carr is definitely a guy you want on your team rather than Jimmy G.
Like I mentioned though, the team isn’t in a rebuild. Their roster is still one of the best in the league. With some new guys in the building offensively the team is a deep playoff competitor if the quarterback and head coaching job is addressed as the priority.
For head coach, Dennis Allen can be presumed the favorite but some other names to include could be Aaron Glenn, Vic Fangio, Mike Zimmer, Brian Flores, Eric Bienemy, Josh Mcdaniels, and Jim Harbaugh.
With most of these options I think your quarterback options are Jameis or draft someone. Aaron Rodger and Russell Wilson won’t want to play for Aaron Glenn. Getting Flores or Bienemy however makes the chances of getting an elite quarterback very capable, like Deshaun Watson if the smoke clears.
This is the most important offseason since 2006, it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out, the team can’t waste another year with the talent and grit that the defense has, so something better get figured out soon or it’ll be another long year.
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