The big wave of signings in NFL free agency have come and gone, but where does that leave the New Orleans Saints? They’ve lost some big names like running back Mark Ingram and defensive end Alex Okafor, but added several other new faces. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown surveying the state of the Saints after the first big week of the NFL offseason:
Offense
Quarterbacks (4): Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, Taysom Hill, J.T. Barrett
Expect more of the same among the quarterbacks. Brees will start every game and set some more all-time NFL records (he needs just 20 more touchdown passes to surpass Peyton Manning). Bridgewater will get into celebratory antics on the sideline and in locker room dance parties. Hill will continue to see action on offense through option plays and moonlighting at tight end. Barrett will be waived an re-signed a thousand times from the practice squad to facilitate other moves.
Running backs (5): Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, Dwayne Washington, Martez Carter
It’s the Kamara show moving forward, even with Murray riding shotgun. Kamara was a monster in his four games without Mark Ingram to start the 2018 season, and he should not be challenged for the lion’s share of touches in 2019. Murray will get plenty of looks in the red zone and spell Kamara on a drive here and there, but it’s shaping up to be Kamara’s world in 2019. Expect at least one more running back to be added as competition for Washington and Carter.
Tight ends (3): Josh Hill, Dan Arnold, Garrett Griffin
This is the thinnest position on the roster. Arnold and Griffin are fine practice squad candidates. neither of them should be starting playoff games or being targeted in the end zone of the NFC championship game. The Saints have to add better players here or they’ll limit the options for Brees to work with when he needs it most. Signing Jared Cook in free agency would be a tremendous upgrade, but there’s been no reported movement on that front.
Wide receivers (8): Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr., Tre’Quan Smith, Keith Kirkwood, Cameron Meredith, Austin Carr, Simmie Cobbs Jr., Travin Dural
Thomas is one of the best receivers in football right now — last year’s All-Pro voting puts him up there with DeAndre Hopkins as the best, bar none. But beyond him, there’s a lot of hope here and not much else. Smith and Kirkwood each had bright moments in their rookie season. Meredith showed a little potential but wasn’t healthy enough to play. Carr was dead weight, and both Cobbs and Dural got injured before they could show anything. There’s reason to think this unit takes a big, collective step forward in 2019. But there’s just as much reason to think they won’t be up to the task of reaching the Super Bowl.
Offensive tackles (5): Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, Michael Ola, Derek Newton, Nate Wozniak
Armstead and Ramczyk are the best set of bookend tackles in the NFL. They may not be the top-ranked guys at left and right tackle individually, but no team has a better pair of starters than the Saints. The trouble is that there’s little depth behind them. Ola was hurt early in the year, Newton joined the team late, and Wozniak spent his rookie year on the practice squad after converting from tight end. Given Armstead’s injury history and the shoulder issue that plagued Ramczyk in the postseason, it’s clear the Saints need a solid swing tackle to back them both up.
Offensive guards/centers (5): Andrus Peat, Nick Easton, Larry Warford, Cameron Tom, Will Clapp
The only known quantity along the interior offensive line is Warford, a two-time Pro Bowler since signing with the Saints. Easton looked passable at center but that was nearly two years ago, having lost his 2018 season to a neck injury. Peat never appeared to fully recover from his broken leg in the 2017 playoffs, though it was compounded by a concussion. Neither Tom nor Clapp showed enough to warrant thinking they can be more than backups just yet. If the Saints’ 2019 season goes in the tank, it could be because of this position group.
Move on to the next page for breakdowns of the special teams unit and defense:
Special Teams
Punters (1): Thomas Morstead,
Kickers (1): Wil Lutz
Snappers (1): Zach Wood
Morstead and Lutz are each signed to long-term contracts, keeping them in New Orleans through at least 2023. They’re also two of the best players in the NFL at their respective positions. Wood has been a fine pickup for the Saints since their hectic search for a new snapper, and he’s entering a contract year. His situation is a minor storyline to watch with new special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi overseeing the operation.
Defense
Defensive ends (3): Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport, Trey Hendrickson
Jordan played like an All-Pro again in 2018 and he’s shown no signs of slowing down. Davenport created a splash play every week and should only improve after a year of NFL training and conditioning. However, the Saints have little to work with after those two starters. Hendrickson has been a liability on running downs and may not have what it takes to excel as a pass-rush specialist. The Saints badly need a third rusher to emerge after losing Alex Okafor in free agency, hence their interest in free agent Ziggy Ansah and trade target Robert Quinn.
Defenisve tackles (6): Malcom Brown, Sheldon Rankins, David Onyemata, Mario Edwards Jr., Taylor Stallworth, Tomasi Laulile
Signing Brown was a great move to upgrade the nose tackle spot, adding a player who can disrupt offenses in more situations than just defending the goal-line. Rankins will be on the mend for a while but he’s developed into one of the NFL’s better interior pass rushers when healthy. Edwards was another smart signing, and he should help lessen the blow from Rankins’ injury and a possible suspension for Onyemata. Stallworth had a good rookie year and could progress further with more experience. Don’t be shocked if the Saints add another defensive tackle, but they may be set here.
Linebackers (6): Demario Davis, A.J. Klein, Alex Anzalone, Craig Robertson, Vince Biegel, Darnell Sankey
Things finally went right for the Saints linebackers in 2018. Davis was a dynamite free agent signing, while Klein and Anzalone each gave the Saints a full year of good health. Robertson is a quality backup and core special teamer, which could be the career path Biegel ends up taking. Sankey spent the year on the practice squad. Backup middle linebacker Manti Te’o was a healthy scratch for all but five games in 2018, but his departure could open the door for the Saints to add another player to the depth chart.
Safeties (4): Marcus Williams, Vonn Bell, Chris Banjo, J.T. Gray
Fans have been clamoring for the Saints to add a third safety, but don’t bet on it. Williams and Bell are a good, not great, starting duo, and Banjo has earned more reps after bagging three interceptions in just 82 snaps the last two years. The Saints rolled with three safeties often in the past because they had to, not because they wanted to. With a deeper group of cornerbacks than they’ve enjoyed before, it’s unlikely they invest a premium draft pick or free agent contract in another safety.
Cornerbacks (6): Marshon Lattimore, Eli Apple, Patrick Robinson, Justin Hardee, Ken Crawley, Chris Campbell
Lattimore is an All-Pro talent, even if we didn’t see it the first month or so last year. He admitted to kind of coasting through training camp and practice after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2018, but getting lit up early and often gave him a serious wakeup call. Hopefully, he won’t make that mistake again. Apple was a great addition to the Saints’ secondary and really turned their fortunes around. If Robinson returns to full health from his ugly early-season ankle injury, he should look again like one of the game’s better playmaking slot defenders. With their starters locked in, don’t look for the Saints to prioritize cornerbacks in the offseason.
