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By Mike Triplett | ESPN

METAIRIE, La. -- The 2021 NFL draft will be critical for the New Orleans Saints after the salary cap forced them to slash their roster depth this offseason.

The development of last year’s draft class might be even more important.

The Saints’ Class of 2020 was small because of multiple trades -- and it didn’t produce much. First-round guard/center Cesar Ruiz battled some inconsistency after switching from his college position of center to right guard and starting 11 games, including the playoffs. Third-round linebacker Zack Baun and fourth-round tight end Adam Trautman played even smaller roles as backups and special-teamers.

However, the Saints are now counting on all three to make big leaps after letting go of veteran starters at each position.

Ruiz should be the full-time starter at right guard after the Saints released his timeshare partner, Nick Easton. Trautman vaulted to No. 1 on the TE depth chart after the Saints parted ways with both Jared Cook and Josh Hill. And Baun will compete for a starting job at linebacker after the Saints parted ways with Kwon Alexander and Alex Anzalone. ...

Full Story - ESPN

Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The great debate ensues on what the Saints will do in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft.

John Hendrix | SI

Mock Draft madness tends to run rampant at this time of the NFL season, as there's a pretty big lull in the league year leading up to the schedule release and draft. There's going to be a ton of rumors and nuggets that fly leading up until then, and we can only anticipate what the Saints do with their 28th overall pick. Naturally, seeing them stay put seems unsettling, as past draft tendencies have suggested.

We'll assume that things stay the way they are as we get through the first round only in this opening mock. Here's how the picks went before New Orleans got to the podium.
The Picks Before

Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Jets - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
49ers - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Falcons - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Bengals - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Dolphins - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Lions - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Panthers - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Broncos - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Cowboys - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama ...

Full Story - SI

New Orleans hasn't had great luck at drafting linebackers in recent seasons. Could this Tulsa star change that fortune if the Saints grab him with a 1st round choice?

Bob Rose | SI

The free-agent addition of linebacker Demario Davis in 2018 transformed the defense of the New Orleans Saints into one of the league's best units. Adding LB Kwon Alexander in a mid-season trade further bolstered the team's athleticism at the position. The play of their two star linebackers helped the Saints finish in the top-five of the league in most major defensive categories in 2020.

New Orleans has had good luck with veteran acquisitions at linebacker since Sean Payton took over as head coach in 2006. The team has not had nearly the success when drafting linebackers during this same period. Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha, Martez Wilson, and Alex Anzalone were players that were drafted within the first three rounds who failed to meet expectations. The jury is still out on Zack Baun, a 3rd round choice last season. ...

Full Story - SI

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

By Matthew Beighle | Whodatdish

Once again, the New Orleans Saints had Super Bowl expectations and came up with a loss. Again, they will go back to the drawing board and try to improve their offense and defense in hopes of being in the position that the Buccaneers are in right now — Super Bowl Champions.

The black and gold finished 13-3 in 2019 and lost in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. The team finished 12-4 in 2020 and lost in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Last two seasons with Super Bowl in their sights, they don’t complete the mission.

This year, they are looking to do the same thing, but the personnel attacking the mission is vastly different. The biggest difference is that this will be the team’s first mission in over a decade with Drew Brees leading the charge.
In the newest Super Bowl odds for 2021, the New Orleans Saints are now tied for No. 10 with at least four other teams at +2500. ...

Full Story - Whodatdish