Just how successful will the Saints be without Drew Brees? Oh, and the many other starters and key role players who left town in the offseason (to say nothing of the coaching staff losses). One outlet cooling expectations is BetMGM, whose oddsmakers set the Saints 2021 win total at 9 games.
That would mean New Orleans’ first season with fewer than 11 wins since 2016. But with so many hits taken across the roster, it might be surprising that the Saints are even expected to have a winning record.
For now, the Saints slot in among returning 2020 playoff teams ranked behind the Seahawks (9.5) and tied with the Titans (9), but ahead of the Steelers (8.5), Washington Football Team (8), and Bears (7). Within the NFC South, the Saints have received BetMGM’s second-best projected win total behind the Buccaneers (11.5) while the Falcons and Panthers fight for third place (7.5 each).
We’ll see how things shake out as free agency resumes after the 2021 NFL draft. If the Saints can find a lockdown cornerback to pair with Marshon Lattimore and reinforce their defensive front, expectations should rise. And if Jameis Winston has grown as anticipated, maybe they’ll cruise past that over/under.
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