The Saints have managed to make at least one notable signing in each of the last couple of years despite being in a constant state of ‘salary cap hell’. Cap maestro Mickey Loomis always seems to find a way to create just enough room to bring in a few new quality players while also retaining the guys key to the Saints success. I could be called an optimist (or even a fool) by saying I have no doubt that Mickey and Sean will make at least one move this off-season that will help reshape the team’s roster to make sure that last year’s debacle doesn’t repeat. Some moves are obvious; Drew is going to get a restructure, probably an extension, and possibly a small pay cut, but no matter how the details work out Drew is going to be making us some room. There are some veteran cut candidates such as Bunkley, Grubbs, and Hawthorne , none of whom are worth anything close to their salaries for this season at this point. Either they get cut, or they restructure and take less money, I don’t see any other option for them. Operating under the assumption that Mickey will give us the Cap room I want to rank in order the guys I think they might go after. They are ranked by both value and need so the player at the top is the guy I deem the best option for the team… and so on.
- Nick Fairley: DT Det
The Saints defense was quite obviously the single biggest weakness of the team last year, and the positions most responsible for its incredible regression to near ’12 levels is due to two positions. Linebacker and interior defensive line play were borderline atrocious all season long and had a significant impact on other positions on the field. There is really only one linebacker of note (Houston) and the Saints can’t afford him… and even if they could I don’t think it would be a smart signing. If you can’t fix linebacker then you have to fix the interior to give your playmakers any kind of chance; with that in mind Fairley is close to a perfect fit. He is a monster of a man who can stop a run game cold almost entirely on his own, but he also has some surprisingly effective pass rush ability. An interior rush can be devastating to a team’s passing game (as the Saints found out last year) and Fairley can help provide that. He has been an often injured and sometimes inconsistent player which should keep him to a manageable price range. The reason I think he could be a great fit is that while he has the talent to truly be a dominant player, the Saints don’t need him to be a top of the league player (like his teammate Suh). They really only need a guy who never drops below ‘pretty good’ and is sometimes destructive to pair with Jenkins and Hicks on the interior. In my opinion Fairley can change the match ups for the Saints and could single handedly make a huge difference for the team in defending both the run and the pass.
- Kareem Jackson: CB Hou
Maxwell is probably the best corner free agent available this year, however I think Jackson is the best value and that is what the team needs most. Jackson is big, physical, tough, has shown steady improvement, and has been a member of quality defenses for years. Jackson also comes from Wade Phillips system who is a Ryan family disciple, and I believe that will allow him to adjust to the teams scheme very quickly. Jackson would be an ideal complement to Keenan Lewis and even though he isn’t a guy who forces a ton of turnovers…if the Saints have actually competent play on the outside they can allow their safeties to take care of that (we are kinda paying a guy to do that btw).
- Rodney Hudson: C KC
Hudson is a quality Center who would probably be the ideal interior lineman for the Saints to pick up. He is good at both pass and run blocking and more importantly he allows the Saints to shore up one of their two positions of need on the line without relying on an untested rookie. If they can sign Hudson to a good value deal it gives the team a great deal many more options than it has now. If he is signed I think there is a good chance they cut Grubbs, restructure Evans, and have either Lelito (most likely the swing back up) or Kelemete (my pick) take over the LG spot on the roster. Hudson would give the team a young, talented, veteran, at a good price who should improve the overall line play just by being there.
- Stephan Paea: DT CHI
The Saints had a lot of success with last young and talented defender they signed in free agency who also happened to be a former Beaver. Paea would not have the same kind of impact that Keenan did (I can pretty much promise you that), but on the other hand he is an exceptionally strong player who is young, quicker than he looks, and has a non-stop motor. Chicago may be reticent to let him go, but if the Saints can sign him to a mid-market type deal I would be totally ok with it. Paea would definitely be an improvement to the defensive line and he brings a little bit of the ‘nasty’ with him that this team lacks.
- C.J. Spiller: RB BUF
Spiller gives you a little bit of everything, but for the Saints in particular he gives them the kind of homerun threat from anywhere on the field they haven’t had since Reggie. Spiller can take carries up the middle and he is a stronger runner than some give him credit for being, but his real gift is his incredible explosiveness (provided its still there post injury). Spiller is also an excellent pass catcher (and not an awful pass protector) which would allow the team to use him in their multiple formations to deadly effect. The injury history is a definite red flag, but if the Saints decide to gamble on him Spiller could become the piece that makes the offense unstoppable….he is that talented.
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