It’s always tough to sketch out the offseason plan for NFL teams, especially those that keep their cards close to their vest — such as the New Orleans Saints. Only a fraction of their internal discussions and meetings are reported, leading to exaggerated reactions among fans and observers from around the league.
So when the Saints met with free agent pass rusher Ziggy Ansah and initiated trade talks with the Miami Dolphins for Robert Quinn, fans were quick to point fingers at someone the Saints invested a lot in at the same position: Marcus Davenport, last year’s first round draft pick. The Saints effectively spent two first round picks (giving up their selection in 2019 to move up in 2018) on Davenport.
Davenport had a fine rookie season, racking up 4.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits in 15 games, including the postseason. A turf toe injury that required offseason surgery sidelined him for about a month. While those are solid numbers for a rookie, they didn’t line up with the sky-high projections many fans expected. So when the Saints began exploring their options to add another pass rusher, it was easy to blame Davenport’s underwhelming debut.
But that doesn’t check out. The Saints have always preferred to field three defensive ends; last year, Davenport was the third guy in the rotation behind starters Cameron Jordan and Alex Okafor. Obviously, Okafor left in free agency, so Davenport is expected to win the starting job opposite Jordan while someone else steps in to back them both up. That’s the vision for Ansah, Quinn, or any other pass rusher the Saints bring in. By working with three talented players, the Saints can keep them all fresh and effective during the four-hour car crash that makes up an NFL game.
So interest in veteran pass rushers doesn’t indict Davenport or suggest any buyer’s remorse. It means the Saints aren’t confident that anyone else on their depth chart (right now, the only other defensive end under contract is Trey Hendrickson) can step in and consistently impact games. They’re being proactive and looking to cover all of their bases before going into the 2019 NFL Draft.
