How long should a successful rebuild take? (14 Viewers)

[Elvis]

3 years for most teams, 5 for this one. You have to be able get move off of bad contracts and old players to do it in 3, this team can’t do that.

 

[Icon]

I'm going to float the idea that Payton's second rebuild would have taken (at least) a year longer, if that 2017 draft had merely been "good" instead of legendary.

The Saints very much looked the part of those 2014 - 2016 teams in their first 2 games of 2017. But once those rookies started settling in, and Kamara got to fully show what he could do......there's a reason people were starting to wonder if the Saints were possibly a SB team right then.

 

[tinman]

2005-2006 Saints took one year.

The 2005 season was the biggest outlier in NFL history! Move the team headquarters out of state, play every home game NOT in the home stadium, every player dealing w/family/home uncertainty, a fan base that was still shell shocked by Katrina & a coach that knew the handwriting was on the wall!
In 2006 w had an awesome draft, a new coach & the best free agent signing in history of the game! The dome opener against ATL was a cherry on the top! After that season it took a couple more years to consistently get it going.

 

[Icon]

The 2005 season was the biggest outlier in NFL history! Move the team headquarters out of state, play every home game NOT in the home stadium, every player dealing w/family/home uncertainty, a fan base that was still shell shocked by Katrina & a coach that knew the handwriting was on the wall!
In 2006 w had an awesome draft, a new coach & the best free agent signing in history of the game! The dome opener against ATL was a cherry on the top! After that season it took a couple more years to consistently get it going.

I've always felt that way about 2005.

Worst case scenario under normal circumstances: probably another one of Haslett's 8-8 seasons.

If there's one thing that always irked me about the story of the post-Katrina Saints path to the SB title, it was the portrayal of the Saints being just a continual-loop episode of Football Follies until Payton and Brees arrived.......which of course is very easy to get away with following a 3-13 season.

 

[Saintstigerking]

3 years. Payton did it twice. He started in 2006 and won it all in 2009. They again tore it down in 2014 and was elite by 2017/8. The problem is the QB position.

Payton had a qb we dont. A rebuild starts when you get a qb.

 

[EASports24]

Payton had a qb dont. A rebuild starts when you get a qb.

He just got a rookie qb this year.

 

[AARPSaint]

Every rebuild is different, it could be 1 season to a perpetual rebuild status. Rebuilds also start at different points with different assets available.

There are a few recent rebuilds as examples; Detroit, Houston, Washington and Chicago.

Chicago thought they needed the right QB, so they made moves to posture themselves to get who they thought was the right QB. They loaded up on weapons, didn't address the O-line and added their QB. Was that the right answer and the right QB? TBD.

Washington did not have much in terms of weapons other than McLauren and Robinson, but they have a decent O-line and they knew they would get whoever fell to them so they concentrated on the line, defense and would add weapons later, but building the foundation for the QB was more important. Their QB is flourishing even without being loaded up with weapons. They are also headed to the playoffs 1 season after picking 2nd.

Houston had a good team with Watson, but his off the field stuff derailed it. They fell hard fast, but they did get some draft capital once they traded Watson, made the right hire for HC who brought a new identity and built around that identity. They built up the Defense, line and then took the QB that fell to them. The developed their WR1 in Nico Collins.

Detroit had pretty much nothing. They had to hire a HC who would bring in an identity and build around that. Campbell got rid of anyone who didn't fit his team build and Stafford who was being wasted in a rebuild. Goff needed to rebuild his career so it was a perfect match. That netted him some draft capital. He then built the trenches, with his guys. He drafted weapons on offense with the same mindset. Now, they are an offensive juggernaut in the image he wanted. Their defense is loaded with talent when healthy, but right now it's patchwork.

We have a young core of players to build around, the decision just needs to be made what will the team identity be and who fits that. This is where I believe Rizzi gets the job and KK stays as OC. This allows the offense to continue to build on what it has and they know what pieces they need. The defense is still TBD.

So, every rebuild is different. There’s no formula. It depends on what strengths the team has to begin with. Makes sense to me.

 

[Clintonrebel]

The 2005 season was the biggest outlier in NFL history! Move the team headquarters out of state, play every home game NOT in the home stadium, every player dealing w/family/home uncertainty, a fan base that was still shell shocked by Katrina & a coach that knew the handwriting was on the wall!
In 2006 w had an awesome draft, a new coach & the best free agent signing in history of the game! The dome opener against ATL was a cherry on the top! After that season it took a couple more years to consistently get it going.

Biggest outlier until….this years Broncos.

It can be done.

 

[Drunk Bucs Fan]

If you don't mind an outsider's opinion, the worst thing you can do is take a qb early because you need one. Yes, you can't win with a bad qb but drafting a bad one early is just desperation and sets your team back years.

My team's example is a couple of years ago the "experts" said the Bucs screwed up by not drafting Will Levis because we "needed" a qb. Instead we took Calijah Kancey. Aside from calf strains derailing the start of each season it's obvious my team made the right choice.

Bottom line, if the qb you believe in is there go get him. He is worth extra draft picks if needed. If not, do not reach. Draft the boring guys, build your lines and work with non-elite guys. Carr isn't superb, but if he had better tools he would be fine until you can get The Guy.

 

[sfidc3]

I don't really believe in "rebuilds" or "tanking".....In today's NFL a team can turnaround in 1 year.....with a new coaching staff and a good draft FA period.....we've seen it happen here.....and it happens in other places as well....

The key is loading up on good (cheap) talent.....

It's not the norm but it's very possible....

 

[SWJJ]

Biggest outlier until….this years Broncos.

It can be done.

Broncos were not a rebuild, they had a dominant defense in place, and good skill players, They were just poorly coached.

 

[Clintonrebel]

Broncos were not a rebuild, they had a dominant defense in place, and good skill players, They were just poorly coached.

Maybe, but the Broncos had 7 straight losing seasons prior to 2024, which is way worse than the current Saints or the 2005 Saints.

 

[kjun3724]

Its not how long will it take. The question is how long do you want to sustain it. Drafting the perfect pick at qb can do it in 1 year (see Houston). Draft the perfect pick in the correct year (3-5) to sustain success. With the wild QB salary numbers drafting that first gives you 4-5 years max. After that you are moving parts to stay under the cap. You build the team with a decent bridge qb and draft one in year 3 you are looking at an 8-10 year window. This gives you the best possible team with a really good young qb on a rookie deal.

 

[tinman]

Biggest outlier until….this years Broncos.

It can be done.

Nothing about 2023 & the current Broncos season remotely compares w/the travails of the Saints 2005 season?
DEN has never played a home game not in Mile High, they had training camp in their own facility(much less in another state), none of the players/coaches family were spread all across the country, their home opener wasn't played on the "visiting" teams field, their fans were able to attend every home game, staff that was completely overwhelmed/disheartened(& it showed) & a very real possibility of a permanent move out of state w/a new owner!
How exactly are they even similar?

 

[BayouSAINTJoe]

3 years....but signs will be there year 1 if there's a chance that it'll work or not. Some of us saw it (not going to work) early with DA, but management needs to pay attention to those signs and not be afraid to move early if need be.