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By John Sigler | Saintswire

What are the New Orleans Saints going to do in the 2020 NFL Draft? While it’s too early to say which positions (much less specific prospects) they’ll be targeting, Saints coach Sean Payton offered his take on the areas he’s been most impressed with so far during an interview with NewOrleansSaints.com’s John DeShazier.

“After doing the front-board meeting, certainly it’s a deep draft at receiver,” Payton said, referring to a conference with college scouting director Jeff Ireland and his staff. “We think [it’s also deep] at defensive back as well, and defensive line. Anytime I say that, there’s certainly a lot of talent at the other positions. But if you said what stood out in our meetings in the last month, it would have been those positions.”

While receiver is easily New Orleans’ biggest roster need — Michael Thomas, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, was targeted 129 more times than the next-best wideout — Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was quick to emphasize that the team isn’t zeroing in on the options at the top of the draft. ...

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By John Sigler | Saintswire

The New Orleans Saints badly need to add talent at wide receiver, and LSU Tigers prospect Justin Jefferson might be the best possible fit for them in the 2020 NFL Draft class. Jefferson showed everything you’d hope to see in his final year with the Tigers, helping lead them to an undefeated record capped by a National Championship Game victory, but he sealed the deal with an impressive outing at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Jefferson nailed the 40-yard dash, finishing with a laser-timed official mark of 4.43 seconds (consistently running in the 4.4’s with hand-timed measurements). That proves that the breakaway speed Jefferson flashes in game tape isn’t a byproduct of scheme or system; he’s a naturally gifted athlete who the Saints badly need to help take some pressure off of Michael Thomas. Even if Thomas handled 185 targets with relative ease, the Saints offense has always been at its best with multiple viable threats through the air. ...

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By John Sigler | Saintswire

There could be a mass exodus out of the New England Patriots this offseason, with franchise quarterback Tom Brady among a crowd of pending free agents who might play elsewhere in 2020. That creates several interesting opportunities for the New Orleans Saints to improve. Here’s who might become available in March:

DE Keionta Davis (RFA)
DT Danny Shelton
DT Adam Butler (RFA)
FS Devin McCourty
FS Nate Ebner
K Nick Folk
LB Jamie Collins
LB Shilique Calhoun
LB Elandon Roberts
LB Kyle Van Noy
OC James Ferentz
OC Ted Karras
OG Joe Thuney
OG Jermaine Eluemunor (RFA)
OT Marshall Newhouse
QB Tom Brady
TE Benjamin Watson
WR Matthew Slater
WR Phillip Dorsett

Naturally, the wish list of Saints targets on this list starts with Joe Thuney. He’s one of the NFL’s elite guards, an ironman at the position who rarely leaves the field, and figures to get paid like it. The Saints have shown a willingness to invest tons of salary cap resources to guards in the past (which is vital with a smaller-statured pocket passer in Drew Brees), so they can’t be ruled out in the Thuney sweepstakes. It would be great to pair him up in practice with nose tackle Malcom Brown again, as two upper-tier trench players with real playoffs experience. ...

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By Kristian Garic | WWL

Drew Brees says he’s coming back, so what would a contract for the future Hall of Fame quarterback look like?

The Who Dat Nation exhaled after QB Drew Brees announced on social media that he will return for another run at it this NFL season. Now that his intention has been made, Brees and the Saints have to negotiate a contract to make it truly official. What might that contract look like?

In all likelihood, the deal is going to be a 1 or 2 year deal that averages 25 million per year. That is well below market value for an elite franchise quarterback regardless of age. Coach Sean Payton is leaving the negotiations up to Drew and General Manager Mickey Loomis. “I would say this to both Drew and Mickey, here we are…however many years. And every time that subject comes up…they always seem to get it done in an efficient matter. I don’t think that will be any different this time around,” explained the Saints head coach. ...

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By Brian Jones | Pop Culture

The New Orleans Saints are looking to get Drew Brees signed before the start of the 2020 league year. Team Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis spoke to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday, who said he hopes to get a deal done before free agency begins on March 18. Brees' contract expires on that day and both sides have expressed mutual interest.

"We certainly want to have that done before the league year begins," Executive Vice Mickey Loomis said via the team's official website. "Whether that's first or not (in terms of signing free agents), I don't think that matters. But we definitely have a goal of having that done before the league year begins."

Earlier this month, Brees went to Instagram to announce he was returning in 2020 after rumors emerged about him possibly retiring....

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John DeShazier | Senior Writer - NewOrleansSaints.com

Indianapolis – It goes beyond the group of receivers, several of whom have been vocal in the belief that they eventually will comprise one of the NFL's great classes at their position.

The New Orleans Saints see and acknowledge the depth of that group at the NFL Combine. But the Saints also see more, and given the team's recent successes in the NFL Draft, New Orleans fully trusts its vision.

"After doing the front-board meeting, certainly it's a deep draft at receiver," Saints Coach Sean Payton said Thursday. "We think at defensive back as well, and defensive line. Any time I say that, there's certainly a lot of talent at the other positions. But if you said what stood out in our meetings in the last month, it would have been those positions." ...

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