Around the League

By John Sigler | Saints Wire

The New Orleans Saints’ title-clinching victory over the Indianapolis Colts 10 years ago was ranked the 17th-best games in Super Bowl history by USA TODAY. It remains the most memorable game in Saints history, thanks to huge plays ranging from Pierre Thomas’s crafty running on a screen pass touchdown, to Thomas Morstead’s “Ambush” onside kick, to Lance Moore’s just-in two-point conversion and Tracy Porter’s famous interception returned for a touchdown. The writeup from USA TODAY’s Nate Davis summed it up well:

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By Dan Mennella | Radio.com

The Carolina Panthers might be looking for their next Cam Newton, but first, they have to figure out what to do with Newton himself.

After nine seasons led by the tandem of quarterback Newton and head coach Ron Rivera, Carolina has moved on from Rivera and dipped into the college ranks to hire Matt Rhule away from Baylor. Rhule, 44, signed a seven-year contract, suggesting the Panthers want him for the long haul.

Whether the Panthers feel similarly about Newton is less clear. The 30-year-old former MVP was limited to two games in 2019 due to a foot injury that eventually required surgery, marking the first time in his career he’s played fewer than 14 games. Now, Newton is entering the final year of his contract before potentially becoming a free agent, and a December report suggested the Panthers would be seeking a “large trade deal” for him this offseason.

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By Kristopher Knox | Bleacher Report

When a team owns the No. 1 pick in the draft, it possesses the potential to change the course of the franchise. For that change to be positive, though, a team has to make the right choice with that No. 1 pick.

For every Cam Newton, Peyton Manning, Orlando Pace or Bruce Smith taken at No. 1, there has been a JaMarcus Russell, a Courtney Brown or a Ki-Jana Carter. Whiffing on a No. 1 pick can be disastrous. Even when the first pick is a sound one, the long-term results can be discouraging.

In 2017, for example, the Cleveland Browns passed on quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson to take Myles Garrett at No. 1. Garrett is a fine pass-rusher, but Mahomes and Watson took their teams to the playoffs this season.

This is why the Cincinnati Bengals have a tough choice ahead of them—a decision they have yet to finalize.

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints
looks to throw a pass during the NFC Divisional Playoff at the Mercedes Benz Superdome
on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

By Chris Rosvoglou | The Spun

The Pro Bowl might not be the most competitive event the NFL has to offer, yet it does provide an opportunity for players to spend quality time with each other. For Drew Brees and his family, it means a chance to meet some of the young stars reshaping the game of football.

With the Pro Bowl set for this weekend in Orlando, the future Hall of Famer is getting his son Baylen prepared to meet Lamar Jackson.

He shared a photo of Baylen holding a Ravens helmet with the following caption:

“Lamar, my son Baylen is looking for you at Pro Bowl this week. You are his guy! He’s pumped to meet you.”

Click to expand...

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By John Sigler | Saints Wire

The number-one priority for the New Orleans Saints in the 2020 offseason has to be finding a wide receiver to run opposite Michael Thomas (after their quarterbacks riddle is answered, of course). Thomas put the team on his back for much of the 2019 season, breaking and resetting the NFL record for receptions in a single season, but he can’t be expected to do that every year.

Ted Ginn Jr. was the next-best wide receiver in catches, and he only had 30. After him, no other wideouts had more than 18. The Saints were able to win a lot of games and get into the playoffs by asking Thomas to make magic despite the extra coverage going his way, but their first-round exit spelled out how serious a problem this could be. Drew Brees needs more weapons at wide receiver, and Sean Payton has to recognize that.

While this is a draft class loaded with talent at that position, we shouldn’t expect the Saints to sit on their hands and wait for a rookie hopeful to drop to them in April. Their strategy for nearly two decades has consisted of filling roster holes through free agency so that they can go into the draft targeting the best players available. To that end, we’ve ranked a dozen possible free agents who fit the Saints’ needs, though maybe not their budget. Each tier is broken down by expected contract values.
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