Countdown To Kickoff - 2024 New Orleans Saints
Sources of information: NFL.Com / Wikipedia.Org / Over The Cap.Com
August 23rd, 2024 - Jerrod "Bub" Means - Number 16
Countdown to Kickoff: Bub Means is the Saints Player of Day 16
We’ve got just 16 days left until the New Orleans Saints open up their 2024 regular season against the Carolina Panthers, which makes our player of the day wide receiver Jerrod "Bub" Means, the current owner of the No. 16 jersey. Means is currently in a battle for a spot on the Saints 53-man roster.
Let’s give a little bit of a background on the rookie first-year pro and what we can expect from Means in 2024:
- Name (Age): Bub Means - 23
- Position: Wide Receiver
- Height, weight: 6'1", 212 pounds
- Relative Athletic Score: 9.47
- 2024 salary cap hit: $858,569
- College: Pittsburgh
- Drafted: 5th Round, in 2024 (New Orleans Saints)
- NFL experience: Rookie
Overview
Big receiver with build-up speed who should be a natural fit for teams employing a layers-based passing scheme. For his size, Means is surprisingly adept at slipping press and shows an ability to create separation on over routes and go routes once he hits top speed. He can win contested throws but gives too many away when he's not imposing his size on the coverage. Means could struggle with a route tree requiring him to gear up and down getting in and out of breaks.
Strengths
- Good height with big frame and excellent wingspan.
- Suddenness to elude press and take early lead.
- Drops head and hits accelerator to extend downfield separation.
- Uses catch radius to stab throws over the heads of corners.
- Has speed to prolong the run after the catch on West Coast routes.
- Played much more confidently over second half of the 2023 season.
Weaknesses
- Needs additional steps to stop momentum on comebacks.
- Occasionally takes foot off the gas and doesn't finish the route.
- Sits and waits on zone throws, allowing coverage to bang catches loose.
- Average feel for putting the cornerback on his hip and keeping him there.
- Could use better effort to sustain his run blocks.
Bub Means attended Lovejoy High School in Lovejoy, Georgia where he was a 3 star recruit coming out of HS. Means committed to play college football at the University of Tennessee. After redshirting in 2019 at Tennessee, Means decided to transfer to Louisiana Tech, where he was forced to sit out the 2020 season. Means first saw action at Louisiana Tech in 2021, where he tallied 22 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns.
Following the 2021 season, Means announced that he would transfer to Pittsburgh. In his firsts season with Pitt, he had 27 receptions for 401 yards and 2 touchdowns. The next season Means hauled in 41 receptions for 721 yards and 6 touchdowns before declaring for the 2024 NFL draft.
Means has good measurables at 6'1" and 211 pounds while running a 4.43 forty yard dash at the NFL combine and posting a 39.5 vertical. He missed a sizeable amount of practice time since being drafted by the Saints in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL draft. He has been practicing with the team as of late.
His performance in the upcoming preseason game against the Titans could determine him making the Saints 53=man roster or not.
If not, he will certainly be a candidate for the Saints practice squad to begin the 2024 season should he clear waivers.