Robert Quinn Should Be The Priority Free Agent

UptMonsta said
As of now our top explosive-type speed rusher is Trey Hendrickson. #94 just might be the top all around edge in the league as far as two-way play, but he needs help. Of our 51 sacks, I wonder how many came from calls that just sent our front four? I would guess not many. But when you live off of getting cute Theilen happens. But imagine if we complimented Cam with a guy that was an even better pass rusher than him? Our good defense would suddenly become great! Quinn quietly has been one of the top pass rushers of this era. And don't get me wrong, I love Davenport, Hendrickson and Granderson as prospects, but that title is sitting right there for the taking. Davenport would be the run down edge and slide inside on passing downs. A third and long front of Cam, Davenport, Rankins and Quinn would be absolutely nasty!! Robert Quinn dictates tempo, he doesn't react to it. A TONE SETTER! Put TCU's corner Jeff Gladney with Latty and a restructured JackRabbit with that four bringing pressure and it is absolute HELL for opposing offenses on third and longs. If you can win with just four you get teams off the field on third downs and DBs play a lot more confidently. If we can't land Quinn, keep an eye on Vic Beasley. I think he can be Quinn like as a rush specialist. Just keep him away from all edge setting responsibilities in the run game. Bring back Klein, get Anzalone healthy and what we have just described is not a good, but quite possibly a GREAT DEFENSE. After a few shut outs maybe Coach P might actually start calling an offense to compliment the defense. TWO DAT!!

I'll buy going after Quinn, as he should have chosen NOLA instead of Dallas; I'm laughing at him for thinking he made the right decision then. That said, I'd cut Anzalone, because all that guy will do is look like he is on the verge of being a good player then be unavailble for the rest of the season - ask Florida. It's not 2 seasons with the Saints, snakebitten. It's his entire college and pro career. Time to move on and give the reps, the coaching, the roster spot to someone who can actually be counted on to be available. Greatest ability is availability. I'd love Jack Rabbit to restructure; not sure he'd be so willing. Quinn came out the gate a really good pass rusher, despite the way his career at UNC ended; he balled out under his rookie deal. He never really had a bad season IMO; if you play him in the position he's best at, he's pretty good, and if you play him out of position like Miami, he's not bad. As for Vic Beasley, I'd guess Falcon fans feel the same way about him as many Saints fans feel about Andrus Peat. I don't mind a low risk 2 or 3 year deal with that guy (even if salary is double digits... on the low end), but I'd never give that guy premium pass rusher money.

Point is neither of those guys are going to be cheap; I expect Quinn to get paid more (despite being older), but I'd guess both get deals averaging more money than Jimmy Graham per year. Probably a good deal more, because pass rushers are very hard to find on the market, and everyone wants one (more). With Ram and Latt and Bell and AK (who I do believe the Saints will trade), I don't see how the Saints can afford to add a FA at XX million per year.