Saints sign WR James Washington to one year deal (released on August 15) (2 Viewers)

[Saintsphere]

I agree, we do not have a stable of proven players at tightend or wide receiver. Outside of New Orleans no one would put our group of tightends or receivers in their top ten let alone number 1.

@B_doggman47 I promise you dude, I PROMISE it's ok if some people don't think the Saints skill players are God's gift to skill players. Giving a Godell clown to that post is so stupid lol. But I guess peak fan optimism means no one is allowed to not heap the praises of our team.

 

[Saint Spud]

Edward’s is 6’3, Perry is 6’4, Davis is 6’4. But also, you don’t have to be the same height to fill a similar role. It’s a combination of all of them to a point regardless.

You said the signing of Washington wasn’t a coincidence relative to what DA said about MT.

They don’t play the same position in our offense. It is the definition of a coincidence.

 

[SonOfNOLA]

It’s really normal for 3rd-6th WRs to have rookie/injury uncertainties with a lot of potential. That’s apart of why they’re 3rd-6th WRs to begin with. Every team’s WR3-WR6 will have uncertainties to point out.

I really would like to know if Boyd/Stan Morgan/Trent Taylor, Anderson/Berrios/Wilson, and Q. Watkins/Zaccheaus/T. Cleveland are being chosen over Michael Thomas and any two of Edwards/Washington/Perry as a backend collective. If it can’t be said that the others are better, then it’s been arguing just to be arguing for some just to oppose, based on finding uncertainty in our WRs and not based on who they’re being compared with at all.

 

[SonOfNOLA]

Dolphins, Bengals and Eagles literally have 4th-6th WRs who were less productive than Washington, Edwards, and, obviously, Michael Thomas over the last 2-3 seasons or their entire careers. They have 4th-6th receivers who barely produce last year and year before but firmly counted in their main 5 or 6. Yet, the uncertainties in our backend WRs is pointed out. Terms like “black & gold glasses ” and “overly optimistic “ are thrown for saying the Saints’ Stable (overall collective) is clearly better than a lot of teams’ unproductive backend WR3-WR6s.

A.T. Perry is obviously a later round rookie that fell. But who’s taking Trent Taylor, Ced Wilson, Tyrie Cleveland, and Stanley Morgan over Perry and his outlook for this season or next 2 years? Who would take those WRs over TQS? Thats been the point

 

[Cougar 2]

Based on talent and experience. The same can be said of how could receivers in those other teams’ WR groups be counted during the offseason while some are returning from injury and battling with incoming players. Previous production and talent is all to go off of.

It’s a given that MT may not play a whole year which is why I firmly consider him our WR3 now. It becomes a lot of over-hypotheticals and second guessing for argument while it’s apparent which Overall groups are better on pure talent and production

I know it’s early, but like many I have us goin 10-7 this year. N I did NOT include MT in my prediction.

Reasoning:

1) Last year, the trio of CO ( rook #1 pick) Sheed ( rook UDFA) n Juwan ( UDFA WR, in his 2nd yr as converted TE ) combined for over 2000 yds n bout 10-12 TDs, mostly with Andy Dalton at QB. Their continued development n additions at WR n TE ( Foster Moreau?) will hopefully give us more depth n competition at those positions.

2) Derek Carr is BETTER than Andy Dalton!

Any questions?

3) An improved run game! It’s been a loong time but we FINALLY got a big physical back in Jamaal who’s coming off his best season as a Pro!

But for all his success, if there’s ONE stat Williams put up last year that I HOPE he can duplicate the MOST as a Saint, n for the success of the entire TEAM this season is… First Downs!!!

Last year, Jamaal ran for 65 of em! That’s nearly four first downs a game! Now, he probably got many/most of em in short yardage situations. But ALL of his 17 TDs came in da red zone too! So opposing defenses KNEW he was coming, but he STILL got da job done!

I know it’s a “passing league”! But I’m STILL old school n STILL some smash mouth football!!!

 

[EGLSShin]

Saints fans always getting hyped over the most bargin bin signings. The WR core is still 3 guys, Thomas has to prove he can stay healthy, Shaheed has to prove he can take the next step with the increased snaps he's going to very obviously be given. Olave has to prove he can do it once again. Every one else is a prove it to me guy that anything extra is lagniappe. No steep expectations on the other guys, you hope they're contributors/make the final roster.

 

[JackDiesel]

Saints fans always getting hyped over the most bargin bin signings. The WR core is still 3 guys, Thomas has to prove he can stay healthy, Shaheed has to prove he can take the next step with the increased snaps he's going to very obviously be given. Olave has to prove he can do it once again. Every one else is a prove it to me guy that anything extra is lagniappe. No steep expectations on the other guys, you hope they're contributors/make the final roster.

How is that any different than pretty much every position group on our team or the NFL for that matter?

CB - Lattimore has to prove he can stay healthy, Taylor has to prove he can take the next step, Adebo has to recover from his sophomore slump. Roby has to prove he's not a JAG.

DE - Jordan has to prove he's not losing a step against father time, Granderson has to prove he can take the next step with more playing time, Turner has to prove he's not a bust, Foskey has to prove he can play in the NFL, Kpass has to prove he's not a JAG.

I could go on and on. There's always unknowns, that's what makes it fun. Loomis has done an excellent job at bringing in talent instead of just resting and he's doing it with low risk, high reward prospects. Washington fits that definition to a tee. He's produced, got stuck in a bad QB situation, then traded and had a foot injury. Now we're getting him cheap with a QB that can maximize his potential.

 

[cygnus_ltb]

Who has a better stable in your opinion?

Bengals

 

[SonOfNOLA]

Bengals

After Chase and Higgins, which Bengals WRs and TEs are you taking over Thomas, Perry, Edwards, TQS, Washington, Johnson, and Moreau?

Michael Thomas or Tyler Boyd?
Bryan Edwards or Stanley Morgan?
TQS or Trent Taylor?

Juwan Johnson or Irv Smith Jr?
Foster Moreau or Drew Sample?

All 5 have been less productive than the other during last season, last 2 seasons and in their careers

 

[rsmith2783]

we have 1 Pro Bowler at WR who hasn't played a full season since 2019, no TEs that really will move the needle besides Saints fans high on their potential, Chris Olave, another potential guy in Shaheed, and Kamara. Us signing James Washington is the reason why you just said we have the best pass catchers and he didn't even play last season!

Guys, I'm high on the potential of some of our guys too, but good lord are we bias acting like this core is the best group of pass catchers in the NFL.

And you can't even say the "I'm not just counting the top guys, I'm counting everyone". When a team has two top guys like Chase and Higgins, that is substantially a huge enough talent gap to counter the "depth" a team may have. And again, our depth isn't even that proven.

Peak fan optimism whether yall want to admit it or not lol

Right now we're approaching what I like to call "dead air", it's the time between Mini Camp & Training Camp. There's no news, videos or anything to report, so we as fans our minds runs wild, so we tend to build up these false expectations and think that every FA, Draft Pick & UDFA will have a huge impact.
The media tends to pumps this sunshine as well.

Olave & Shaheed did well for us last year. Mind you, opposing DCs will now have film on these guys, so I wouldn't go out and expect them to easily duplicate what they did last year. Also in the past we had the creative ability of SP. Given that we still have the genius of PC, I'm waiting to see how things play out.

But please stop blowing up every single move that is made. We go through this almost every year, heck I think we did it last year as well.

 

[SonOfNOLA]

Right now we're approaching what I like to call "dead air", it's the time between Mini Camp & Training Camp. There's no news, videos or anything to report, so we as fans our minds runs wild, so we tend to build up these false expectations and think that every FA, Draft Pick & UDFA will have a huge impact.
The media tends to pumps this sunshine as well.

Olave & Shaheed did well for us last year. Mind you, opposing DCs will now have film on these guys, so I wouldn't go out and expect them to easily duplicate what they did last year. Also in the past we had the creative ability of SP. Given that we still have the genius of PC, I'm waiting to see how things play out.

But please stop blowing up every single move that is made. We go through this almost every year, heck I think we did it last year as well.

It’s obvious Olave and Shaheed are young and on the verge of taking a leap. At this current moment, Hill/Waddle, Chase/Higgins, Brown/Smith are clearly better based on proven production. While Olave and Shaheed are capable of producing the same on rookie contract salaries.

The starting 2 WRs are a tandem, not a stable or depth. After teams top 2 tandems is where the terms Depth and Stable come in. Regardless of how much the uncertainties and hypotheticals are pointed out, by the numbers the Saints factually have more productive and talented reserve WRs than a lot of other teams.

No one’s calling them starters. They’re simply better reserve WRs. Teams like the Bengals, Dolphins and Eagles literally have 3rd-6th WRs and TEs who have been less productive than our current projected 3rd-6th WRs and top 2 TEs last season or seasons before. That’s the reason why they don’t have better Stables.

It’s not hype or blowing up a move to point out who’s obviously better based on production and talent. Some rather insert negativity and lack of confidence to avoid realizing your teams’ “fliers” are better than other teams’ unproductive 3rd-5th WRs who just play ST and holding a roster spot on those teams.

 

[SAINTSFAN]

It’s obvious Olave and Shaheed are young and on the verge of taking a leap. At this current moment, Hill/Waddle, Chase/Higgins, Brown/Smith are clearly better based on proven production. While Olave and Shaheed are capable of producing the same on rookie contract salaries.

The starting 2 WRs are a tandem, not a stable or depth. After teams top 2 tandems is where the terms Depth and Stable come in. Regardless of how much the uncertainties and hypotheticals are pointed out, by the numbers the Saints factually have more productive and talented reserve WRs than a lot of other teams.

No one’s calling them starters. They’re simply better reserve WRs. Teams like the Bengals, Dolphins and Eagles literally have 3rd-6th WRs and TEs who have been less productive than our current projected 3rd-6th WRs and top 2 TEs last season or seasons before. That’s the reason why they don’t have better Stables.

It’s not hype or blowing up a move to point out who’s obviously better based on production and talent. Some rather insert negativity and lack of confidence to avoid realizing your teams’ “fliers” are better than other teams’ unproductive 3rd-5th WRs who just play ST and holding a roster spot on those teams.

Do you think that fans of the rest of the NFL see Shaheed as a sure fire #2? He averaged about 2 catches for 40 yards a game last year as an UFA. I really like his potential, but not a slam dunk. Also, if you are rating Perry so high, why not other team's draft choices (i.e. Iosivas with the Bengals, Higgins with Dolphins). Let's get through training camp before trying to rank them.

 

[DavidM]

[...] so we as fans our minds runs wild, so we tend to build up these false expectations and think that every FA, Draft Pick & UDFA will have a huge impact.
The media tends to pumps this sunshine as well.

[...]

But please stop blowing up every single move that is made. We go through this almost every year, heck I think we did it last year as well.

I disagree with this mindset. Sports are supposed to be a distraction from the more serious parts of life. It's entertainment. I think one of the worst things about fan sites are the "realists" always at the ready to tamp down enthusiasm. Oh no, some people are excited and optimistic, let's rally together and stop this before it gets out of hand.

I don't expect that Washington will be a breakout player here but could he be a solid addition to round out the receiving group? Quite possibly. If fans want to see the positive in that - cool. And if some fans want to get really hopeful about a player, the receivers, the team, or whatever else - that's great, too. If others want to take a more wait-and-see approach, I relate to that. Difference of opinions can make for interesting discussion. But to tell fans to "stop blowing up every single move" seems needlessly dour. I can appreciate taking a measured approach about things but that doesn't have to come in the form of being the glum resistance to other people's hopeful observations.

I most appreciate the reasoned takes but, as a fan, if I'm having to choose between the "sunshine pumpers" and the "gloomy realists", open the windows and let those rays pour in.

 

[DavidM]

Do you think that fans of the rest of the NFL see Shaheed as a sure fire #2? He averaged about 2 catches for 40 yards a game last year as an UFA. I really like his potential, but not a slam dunk. Also, if you are rating Perry so high, why not other team's draft choices (i.e. Iosivas with the Bengals, Higgins with Dolphins). Let's get through training camp before trying to rank them.

Yeah, I agree. I like the potential of this group, but there's a lot left that has to be proven.

Still, the overhaul of this unit from what Payton left the team looks really promising and I like the effort of the front office and coaching staff to get better at the position - maybe a lot better.