Zack Baun: Top Graded LB / DPOTW [Why Baun Isn’t Still a Saint Thread]

Had they been re-signed, everyone would be complaining again that “Loomis keeps destroying the cap by re-signing declining, aging, past their prime players to ridiculous contracts!!” by year 2 or 3 of their contracts.

Not re-signing Hendrickson was a legitimate error. Elliss and Baun were not starting in New Orleans based on several starting LBs in front of them. Their window of being successful LBs may also be very small based on their ages.
Why weren’t they starting or playing bigger roles? Baun was a great pass rusher in college but the Saints hardly used him in that capacity. Ellis was also primarily a special teamer who showed dynamic pass rushing when finally given a chance. Hendrickson was already a good pass rusher when they let him walk. Why? Because none of them fit the Saints “prototype” for players at their position. So others are kept, they all walk, and the Saints can’t mount a pass rush, arguably the most important capability of a modern NFL. Who is accountable?