KingNene
Pro-Bowler
Offline
After a tough loss, I needed something to keep my mind preoccupied so I ranked my off-season needs.
I think we can all agree the first four are the biggest needs. It is just how you arrange them is how we differ.
1. Linebacker
Players Under Contract:
A.J. Klein
Alex Anzalone
Manti Te’o
Craig Robertson
Nate Stupar
Sae Tautu
Free Agents:
Gerald Hodges
Michael Mauti
Jonathan Freeny
Linebacker, in my humble opinion, is by far the most important need for the Saints this off-season. We saw good things from most of our current linebackers, especially A.J. Klein, Manti Te’o and Alex Anzalone. However, as we saw this year we became very depleted causing players like Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges to end up player meaningful stats. We need another starting linebacker. What is good is our linebackers are so versatile it does not matter whether we draft or sign an outside or inside linebacker. I would prefer to draft a young, athletic, talented linebacker to learn from Klein or Craig Robertson.
2. Tight End
Players Under Contract:
Coby Fleener
Josh Hill
Michael Hoomanawanui
Garrett Griffin
Free Agents:
John Phillips
Clay Harbor
Ever since Benjamin Watson left for Baltimore (God I miss him), the Saints have struggled with the tight end position. They signed Coby Fleener only for him to end up being a bust. Josh Hill flashes sometimes but he far from consistent. And Michael Hoomanawanui is mainly a blocker. Maybe the Saints have something in Griffin but who knows? The Saints need a talented pass-catching tight end who can make splash plays in the middle of the field. Whether find it in the draft or free agency does not matter. We just need it now.
3. Wide Receiver
Players Under Contract:
Michael Thomas
Ted Ginn Jr.
Tommylee Lewis
Austin Carr
Dan Arnold
Paul Turner
Free Agents:
Willie Snead IV
Brandon Coleman
Michael Thomas stepped up this year and is beginning to be recognized as elite receiver by the wide NFL. However, after that, the Saints lack another reliable target. Ted Ginn Jr. was very good for us as a deep threat and his dropping troubles seem to be fixed, thank you Curtis Johnson. Willie Snead IV was a major disappointment while Brandon Coleman was quietly impressive, although he did randomly start having fumbling troubles. Both are free agents. The Saints simply need another weapon who is reliable on third down. Who knows maybe the Saints resign Willie Snead and becomes the player he used to be. Only time will tell.
4. Defensive End
Players Under Contract:
Cameron Jordan
Trey Hendrickson
Hau’oli Kikaha
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Free Agents:
Alex Okafor
George Johnson
Kasim Edebali
The ranking of this need is dependent on one thing: Alex Okafor. If the Saints resign Okafor, then this need becomes less important. If not, it becomes more important. I would like to give time for Trey Hendrickson and Al-Quadin Muhammad more time to develop as pass rushers. I would rather use a later round draft pick or sign a lower price guy to work as a rotational pass rusher. We did get to the quarterback quite often.
5. Quarterback
Players Under Contract:
Taysom Hill
Free Agents:
Drew Brees
Chase Daniel
Drew Brees is a free agent this off-season and that is something to worry about. However, there is mutual interest and I’m sure resigning Brees is at the top of the list for Mickey Loomis. Chase Daniel did not play great in the preseason but the Saints might just resign him as depth and we still don’t know what we have in Taysom Hill. Don’t be shocked if the Saints decide to use their first round pick on a quarterback to learn behind Brees.
6. Safety
Players Under Contract:
Vonn Bell
Marcus Williams
Chris Banjo
Rickey Jefferson
Free Agents:
Kenny Vaccaro
Rafael Bush
Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams’ rise may leave Kenny Vaccaro being seen as expendable. We’ll see what Loomis does with Vaccaro this off-season. Chris Banjo was great for us this year as a special teamer and when called on he is decent enough at safety. We still need to add someone act as more depth. It does not need to be a high draft pick or an expensive free agent. Just a player with good play recognition and a good football IQ. Also, I would advise the Saints to resign Bush as depth as well.
7. Cornerback
Players Under Contract:
Marshon Lattimore
Ken Crawley
P.J. Williams
Arthur Maulet
Justin Hardee
Bradley Sylve
Free Agents:
Delvin Breaux
Sterling Moore
Cornerback became one of the biggest needs for the Saints last offseason to one of their strengths this offseason. This was due to Marshon Lattimore’s electric play as a rookie and Ken Crawley as a solid number two cornerback. P.J. Williams also was a very solid nickel corner. However I would like one more solid corner to act as depth due to Hardee and Maulet mainly being special teamers. Also, I wonder what the Saints are going to do with Delvin Breaux this offseason.
8. Offensive Tackle
Players Under Contract:
Terron Armstead
Ryan Ramczyk
Zach Strief
Josh Fullington
Free Agents:
Bryce Harris
Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk form one of the best tackle duos in the entire league. Zach Strief missed all of this year due to an injury and I fully expect Strief to retire this offseason. Aside from Armstead and Ramczyk, the Saints do not have much else. The Saints need a viable tackle backup mostly due to Armstead’s continued injuries. That would keep Andrus Peat at guard which he is far better at.
9. Guard
Players Under Contract:
Larry Warford
Andrus Peat
Andrew Tiller
Free Agents:
Senio Kelemete
Josh LeRibeus
Larry Warford and Andrus Peat both played great this year to help round out our talented offensive line. They were key to our amazing run game. However Senio Kelemete and Josh LeRibeus are both free agents this offseason. If I were the Saints I would do everything in my power to make sure retain both of their services. With how much our offensive line get injured, they are very important. If either of them leave the Saints are going to have to look for a cheap replacement or they are going to have to draft someone else.
10. Defensive Tackle
Players Under Contract:
Sheldon Rankins
Tyeler Davison
David Onyemata
Mitchell Loewen
Free Agents:
John Hughes
David Parry
Tony McDaniel
This is by far the deepest position on defense. Sheldon Rankins, Tyeler Davison and David Onyemata form a rather scary defensive tackle trio. Mitchell Loewen was actually playing pretty well before he got hurt. I don’t see much happening with the defensive tackle position this offseason.
11. Center
Players Under Contract:
Max Unger
Cameron Tom
Free Agents:
Josh LeRibeus
Senio Kelemete
Jack Allen
Max Unger was a Pro Bowl caliber center this year. Aside from Ingram and Kamara, he was the person most responsible for our fantastic run game. As mentioned earlier LeRibeus and Kelemete are both free agents. They need at least one of them to return in the offseason.
12. Running Back/Fullback
Players Under Contract:
Mark Ingram
Alvin Kamara
Trey Edmunds
Daniel Lasco
Jonathan Williams
Free Agents:
Zach Line
John Kuhn
The running back position for us is more or less set for us. Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara combine to be one of the best running back tandems of all time. As we saw in the Buffalo game, Trey Edmunds can make splash plays. However, the fullback position is something to look at. Both John Kuhn and Zach Line are free agents. What I expect to happen is the Saints resign Zach Line while Josh Kuhn retires.
13. Special Teams
Players Under Contract:
Wil Lutz
Thomas Morstead
Free Agents:
Zach Wood
Not much to say here. Wil Lutz and Thomas Morstead are awesome. The Saints should resign Zach Wood because he is a solid long snapper.
Leave you thoughts below!!!
I think we can all agree the first four are the biggest needs. It is just how you arrange them is how we differ.
1. Linebacker
Players Under Contract:
A.J. Klein
Alex Anzalone
Manti Te’o
Craig Robertson
Nate Stupar
Sae Tautu
Free Agents:
Gerald Hodges
Michael Mauti
Jonathan Freeny
Linebacker, in my humble opinion, is by far the most important need for the Saints this off-season. We saw good things from most of our current linebackers, especially A.J. Klein, Manti Te’o and Alex Anzalone. However, as we saw this year we became very depleted causing players like Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges to end up player meaningful stats. We need another starting linebacker. What is good is our linebackers are so versatile it does not matter whether we draft or sign an outside or inside linebacker. I would prefer to draft a young, athletic, talented linebacker to learn from Klein or Craig Robertson.
2. Tight End
Players Under Contract:
Coby Fleener
Josh Hill
Michael Hoomanawanui
Garrett Griffin
Free Agents:
John Phillips
Clay Harbor
Ever since Benjamin Watson left for Baltimore (God I miss him), the Saints have struggled with the tight end position. They signed Coby Fleener only for him to end up being a bust. Josh Hill flashes sometimes but he far from consistent. And Michael Hoomanawanui is mainly a blocker. Maybe the Saints have something in Griffin but who knows? The Saints need a talented pass-catching tight end who can make splash plays in the middle of the field. Whether find it in the draft or free agency does not matter. We just need it now.
3. Wide Receiver
Players Under Contract:
Michael Thomas
Ted Ginn Jr.
Tommylee Lewis
Austin Carr
Dan Arnold
Paul Turner
Free Agents:
Willie Snead IV
Brandon Coleman
Michael Thomas stepped up this year and is beginning to be recognized as elite receiver by the wide NFL. However, after that, the Saints lack another reliable target. Ted Ginn Jr. was very good for us as a deep threat and his dropping troubles seem to be fixed, thank you Curtis Johnson. Willie Snead IV was a major disappointment while Brandon Coleman was quietly impressive, although he did randomly start having fumbling troubles. Both are free agents. The Saints simply need another weapon who is reliable on third down. Who knows maybe the Saints resign Willie Snead and becomes the player he used to be. Only time will tell.
4. Defensive End
Players Under Contract:
Cameron Jordan
Trey Hendrickson
Hau’oli Kikaha
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Free Agents:
Alex Okafor
George Johnson
Kasim Edebali
The ranking of this need is dependent on one thing: Alex Okafor. If the Saints resign Okafor, then this need becomes less important. If not, it becomes more important. I would like to give time for Trey Hendrickson and Al-Quadin Muhammad more time to develop as pass rushers. I would rather use a later round draft pick or sign a lower price guy to work as a rotational pass rusher. We did get to the quarterback quite often.
5. Quarterback
Players Under Contract:
Taysom Hill
Free Agents:
Drew Brees
Chase Daniel
Drew Brees is a free agent this off-season and that is something to worry about. However, there is mutual interest and I’m sure resigning Brees is at the top of the list for Mickey Loomis. Chase Daniel did not play great in the preseason but the Saints might just resign him as depth and we still don’t know what we have in Taysom Hill. Don’t be shocked if the Saints decide to use their first round pick on a quarterback to learn behind Brees.
6. Safety
Players Under Contract:
Vonn Bell
Marcus Williams
Chris Banjo
Rickey Jefferson
Free Agents:
Kenny Vaccaro
Rafael Bush
Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams’ rise may leave Kenny Vaccaro being seen as expendable. We’ll see what Loomis does with Vaccaro this off-season. Chris Banjo was great for us this year as a special teamer and when called on he is decent enough at safety. We still need to add someone act as more depth. It does not need to be a high draft pick or an expensive free agent. Just a player with good play recognition and a good football IQ. Also, I would advise the Saints to resign Bush as depth as well.
7. Cornerback
Players Under Contract:
Marshon Lattimore
Ken Crawley
P.J. Williams
Arthur Maulet
Justin Hardee
Bradley Sylve
Free Agents:
Delvin Breaux
Sterling Moore
Cornerback became one of the biggest needs for the Saints last offseason to one of their strengths this offseason. This was due to Marshon Lattimore’s electric play as a rookie and Ken Crawley as a solid number two cornerback. P.J. Williams also was a very solid nickel corner. However I would like one more solid corner to act as depth due to Hardee and Maulet mainly being special teamers. Also, I wonder what the Saints are going to do with Delvin Breaux this offseason.
8. Offensive Tackle
Players Under Contract:
Terron Armstead
Ryan Ramczyk
Zach Strief
Josh Fullington
Free Agents:
Bryce Harris
Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk form one of the best tackle duos in the entire league. Zach Strief missed all of this year due to an injury and I fully expect Strief to retire this offseason. Aside from Armstead and Ramczyk, the Saints do not have much else. The Saints need a viable tackle backup mostly due to Armstead’s continued injuries. That would keep Andrus Peat at guard which he is far better at.
9. Guard
Players Under Contract:
Larry Warford
Andrus Peat
Andrew Tiller
Free Agents:
Senio Kelemete
Josh LeRibeus
Larry Warford and Andrus Peat both played great this year to help round out our talented offensive line. They were key to our amazing run game. However Senio Kelemete and Josh LeRibeus are both free agents this offseason. If I were the Saints I would do everything in my power to make sure retain both of their services. With how much our offensive line get injured, they are very important. If either of them leave the Saints are going to have to look for a cheap replacement or they are going to have to draft someone else.
10. Defensive Tackle
Players Under Contract:
Sheldon Rankins
Tyeler Davison
David Onyemata
Mitchell Loewen
Free Agents:
John Hughes
David Parry
Tony McDaniel
This is by far the deepest position on defense. Sheldon Rankins, Tyeler Davison and David Onyemata form a rather scary defensive tackle trio. Mitchell Loewen was actually playing pretty well before he got hurt. I don’t see much happening with the defensive tackle position this offseason.
11. Center
Players Under Contract:
Max Unger
Cameron Tom
Free Agents:
Josh LeRibeus
Senio Kelemete
Jack Allen
Max Unger was a Pro Bowl caliber center this year. Aside from Ingram and Kamara, he was the person most responsible for our fantastic run game. As mentioned earlier LeRibeus and Kelemete are both free agents. They need at least one of them to return in the offseason.
12. Running Back/Fullback
Players Under Contract:
Mark Ingram
Alvin Kamara
Trey Edmunds
Daniel Lasco
Jonathan Williams
Free Agents:
Zach Line
John Kuhn
The running back position for us is more or less set for us. Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara combine to be one of the best running back tandems of all time. As we saw in the Buffalo game, Trey Edmunds can make splash plays. However, the fullback position is something to look at. Both John Kuhn and Zach Line are free agents. What I expect to happen is the Saints resign Zach Line while Josh Kuhn retires.
13. Special Teams
Players Under Contract:
Wil Lutz
Thomas Morstead
Free Agents:
Zach Wood
Not much to say here. Wil Lutz and Thomas Morstead are awesome. The Saints should resign Zach Wood because he is a solid long snapper.
Leave you thoughts below!!!