It’s been a busy offseason so far that saw the Saints end up being very active in free agency despite little cap room. As if we needed a reminder, Loomis Math is alive and well. Free agency isn’t necessarily over but Nick Fairley has to represent the last significant splash they make. To recap, the Saints added K Josh Scobee, Canadian SS Erik Harris, TE Coby Fleener, Fairley and LBs Nate Stupar, James Laurinaitis and Craig Robertson. Not a bad haul, especially when you consider the limitations, and I’m pleased 5 of these 7 additions are defensive players. I think a big reason the Saints were able to load up at linebacker is that it’s a relatively cheap position these days as there’s so much substitutions between running and passing downs. The linebackers have been squeezed out of a modern passing game and big investments are made in pass rushers and cover guys. The deals for Laurinaitis and Robertson are stupid low compared to the coin other free agents made this offseason. Good on the Saints for getting promising players at positions of need. So what are the remaining needs?
1. Guard
To me this is without question the biggest need on the team. It seems very unlikely the Saints use the 12th overall pick on this position because frankly there’s just not a guy good enough to take there. But the Saints need to seriously consider walking away from the draft with two, including at least one that has a legitimate shot at competing to start. The good news is you can get good guards in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th round. Jahri Evans was taken in the 4th and Carl Nicks in the 5th. Teams don’t draft the best guards in the draft high, typically speaking. Right now the starters are Senio Kelemete and Tim Lelito (who is tendered but hasn’t officially signed yet, so he could still potentially be at risk of leaving). I guess we’re back to talking about Andrus Peat being in the mix at guard, too, but honestly I was hoping he’d step up and unseat Zach Strief at right tackle this year. The reality is the guards weren’t good last year and that’s when they had Jahri Evans. He’s gone and they’ve done nothing to replace him. When keeping Drew Brees healthy is of utmost concern, that’s not good. The Saints made runs at J. R. Sweezy and Alex Boone in free agency and came up short on both. So they know this position is a need. I’d like to see them still try and sign a veteran for competition (Louis Vasquez, Amini Silatolu and Geoff Schwartz are still out there) and draft a guy or two. But regardless of who they add, they’re going to need to get lucky. This is a position that’s going to remain of serious concern as we go along here.
2. Edge/Pass Rush
Some of you might argue that this is the biggest need, but there’s at least prospects here (unlike at guard). Obum Gwacham and Kasim Edebali have shown occasional flashes. Kikaha has shown some raw ability. Davis Tull is still untapped potential. It’s not inconceivable that Fairley helps push the pocket and one of those 4 guys pairs with Cam Jordan to improve the Saints pass rush. Ideally, though, Bobby Richardson is replaced by a pass rushing edge and he gets relegated to being a situational sub. Shaq Lawson at 12 makes a lot of sense because he improves that area of need immediately. We’ll see if he falls to the Saints at 12. Otherwise, they need someone else in the mix that can help the Saints pass rush. Say what you will about Junior Galette but the Saints missed his on field production last year.
3. Receiver
Drew Brees is a miracle worker that’s made guys like Lance Moore, Kenny Stills and Willie Snead relevant in the league. No disrespect to those guys but I just don’t see them having monster years like they’ve had in New Orleans with almost anyone else. You could possibly argue the same for Marques Colston. That said, Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Brandon Coleman are the top 3 receivers. After that? I guess their 4th receiver is R. J. Harris? Kyle Prater? You get the idea. I like those guys as prospects but they haven’t done anything to enter the draft as the #4 receiver on the roster. The Saints desperately need more depth and talent in the mix at receiver. The fact that Coleman is guaranteed a roster spot based on his up and down play last year should be a major cause for concern. But he has no one even remotely threatening him right now. That’s why Laquon Treadwell at 12 is a very distinct possibility. The Saints may take a receiver early.
4. Defensive Tackle
Fairley was a nice addition but you can’t assume he’s going to fix this defense. He’s got a reputation for being lazy and he’ll remind you of Akiem Hicks in that he runs hot and cold. Hopefully the Saints maximize his abilities. Even if they do, though, the interior is him, John Jenkins, Tyeler Davison and the orphanage of undrafted rookie free agents that made the roster last year. There needs to be more competition here. The draft is extremely deep at defensive tackle and the Saints could take one at 12 like Sheldon Rankins or they could wait until the 2nd and hope someone like Chris Jones or Vernon Butler falls. Those are just a few names. Even in rounds 3 or 4 there will be good options. The Saints have to draft at this position.
5. Safety
Sean Payton identified this position as a need and I agree. Losing Rafael Bush hurts. Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro are the starters but both have had significant injury issues over the last two seasons. Bush did too, admittedly, but he really provided nice depth. Now you have Harris the new Canadian safety, Jamarca Sanford (who I like) and Vinnie Sunseri who has spent the first two seasons of his NFL career on IR. It would be good to have a back end coverage safety that tackles well to replace Bush. Depth is sorely needed here.
6. Cornerback
Delvin Breaux and Keenan Lewis is a great place to start, but Lewis is coming off a season ending injury and there are tons of question marks behind them. Damian Swann looked promising but was concussed a scary number of times. P. J. Williams was on IR all season. I like Kyle Wilson and Brian Dixon but they’re your #4 and #5 corners at best. A good young corner that can compete for the nickel job would help here. I like Williams and Swann in the mix and hopefully one or both pan out this year, but you just can’t count on that. The Saints need another promising youngster in the mix.
7. Running back
If Tim Hightower comes back then I take this off the list. Right now, though, if Mark Ingram goes down it’s a major issue. There is no one else who can carry the load. Spiller is Spiller. Even if healthy, which is no given, his role is more specialized. Ditto Travaris Cadet. Ditto Marcus Murphy. I’m not really sure what to expect from Vick Ballard. I’m not as worried about this position because the Saints have been so good at finding backs even after the draft (Pierre Thomas, Joique Bell, Lynell Hamilton, Chris Ivory, Khiry Robinson, Cadet). So even if Hightower doesn’t return I don’t think they need to draft a guy. But they’ll need more of a bruising style in the mix to mimic what Ingram does because currently they have a bunch of receiving back specialists behind him.
8. Outside linebacker
I hesitate to add this with all the additions in free agency but they could still use more speed to the ball. If Myles Jack falls to 12 by some miracle, I think you have to take him. Stupar and Mauti I view mostly as special teams. That means the true linebackers are Anthony, Laurinaitis, Robertson and Ellerbe. I’m not including the Edebali/Kikaha/Tull type guys because they are pass rushers. I think there’s room in the mix for another young player with speed and coverage ability. This isn’t a critical spot and I could live without an addition here.
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