Would you sign Nigel Bradham back or bring in Clay Matthews ?
It will be Anzalone, and we”ll be fine. Our defense was good with Anzalone. Kwon was an upgrade, but Anzalone is also a good LB. It’s amazing how people have gone from thinking Anzalone was great to worthless. The truth is in between.
Anzalone appeared to be coming into his own prior to his season-ending injury
last season. However,
this season, he has not played well... so much so that the Saints felt it was necessary to go out at the trade deadline and acquire his upgraded replacement in Kwon Alexander.
Anzalone has a chance to get things right and make himself a lot of money when he hits free agency next offseason... but if the Anzalone that played up until the 49ers game picks up where left off, then it’s a problem! ...a problem that the Saints recognized.
I have no doubt that Anzalone is plan A to step back into a starting role... but Anzalone has another MAJOR concern around him outside of his sub-par play this season... his past issues with availability 😬
The Saints absolutely MUST have another LB on the roster that can play (and play at least decent) should they need him to. Robertson is a STer ONLY at this point. Baun isn’t ready to play a brand new position as a coverage LB... and Kaden Elliss is largely an afterthought at this point.
So it’s either going with one of the 2 “coverage-style” LBs on the practice squad (Hansen or Dowell), or going out and bringing a new face in.
*EDIT*
I just want to add that I
hate that the Eagles poached Joe Bachie away from the Saints PS... I really liked Bachie, and although he’s not exactly considered a coverage LB, I think this would’ve been an opportunity for him to get a look.