Underhill: Gauging the Saints' musts, needs and wants as the NFL offseason kicks off (1 Viewer)

[Slaw]

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By Nick Underhill

When the New Orleans Saints gather after each season, they set out to organize their offseason priorities by categorizing them as musts, needs and wants.

This approach allows the front office to rank the team's voids by level of urgency, then work to fill those shortcomings.

Some of the holes on the roster are easily identifiable, and those typically end up as musts. This year, above everything else, the team needs to find someone to play defensive end opposite Cameron Jordan. That’s a must.

A need is a secondary concern, a spot where the team could get by with what it has, but an upgrade is needed. A position like guard might qualify here.

A want is just that — a spot where the Saints would like a different player, but landing one is not paramount to their success.

With the NFL combine kicking off Tuesday and free agency looming almost right after it ends, now is a good time to look at the roster and take a guess at how the Saints might prioritize their offseason agenda.

Full Story - The Advocate

 

[Pancakes]

Love Nicks articles. Thanks for the share.

 

[Slaw]

I have to agree with Nick.

Musts:
Pass rusher
Cornerback

Needs:
Guard
Middle linebacker

Wants:
Pass catching running back
Weakside linebacker
Nickel cornerback
Quarterback

Edit:
Nick mentioned right tackle when talking about guard. I would add right tackle and versatile pass rusher to the list of wants.

 

[Slaw]

I'm bored, so I'm going to take my best guess at how we address these.

Musts:
Pass rusher - Derek Barnett - 1st round
Cornerback - Morris Claiborne - FA

Needs:
Guard - Larry Warford - FA
Middle linebacker - Kevin Minter - FA

Wants:
Pass catching running back - Taquan Mizzell - 6th round
Weakside linebacker - Duke Riley - 4th round
Nickel cornerback - Tre'Davious White - 2nd round
Removed QB and added:
Versatile pass rusher - Tyus Bowser - 3rd round

 

[Cougar 1]

Gotta put PR/KR in there somewhere!

No doubt, CB is a must. But I like Adoree Jackson in the 2nd rd cause he can do both as well as play CB.

But I also like Tre White here. He may not be a KR, but he can return punts, play on coverage teams, esp as a gunner, and IMO, mite b the better CB of of the 2.

There probably others out there, but these 2 r both pretty good players!

 

[Slaw]

Gotta put PR/KR in there somewhere!

No doubt, CB is a must. But I like Adoree Jackson in the 2nd rd cause he can do both as well as play CB.

But I also like Tre White here. He may not be a KR, but he can return punts, play on coverage teams, esp as a gunner, and IMO, mite b the better CB of of the 2.

There probably others out there, but these 2 r both pretty good players!

I think it's a given that either one of the corners or the running back needs to be able to return punts. It is in my mind at least. In my scenaro it's Tre White.

 

[Cougar 1]

BTW, I also think we're gonna make a hard run at a CB in FA....

And I love the Derek Barnett pick!

 

[Slaw]

BTW, I also think we're gonna make a hard run at a CB in FA....

And I love the Derek Barnett pick!

I think that's a big possibility. I just hope they are very confident in the corner's talent if they offer a big contract. I think I would go for Claiborne on a smaller contract. But if they know Bouye, Johnson, or Gilmore can be a legit #1 corner for us, then go for it.

I'm actually hoping for Solomon Thomas over Barnett, but I think he will go top 10.

 

[WxM]

I have to agree with Nick.

Musts:
Pass rusher
Cornerback

Needs:
Guard
Middle linebacker

Wants:
Pass catching running back
Weakside linebacker
Nickel cornerback
Quarterback

Edit:
Nick mentioned right tackle when talking about guard. I would add right tackle and versatile pass rusher to the list of wants.

I'd remove nickel CB and add safety.

We have TONS of slotty nickel types. Kyle Wilson was a good nickel the year before. Sterling Moore would be a fine nickel. Damian Swann could do it. B.W. Webb is available. Calhoun, Hightower, etc. are also nickel styles.

I'd rather have new safety to fill the vacancy left by the likely retiring Roman Harper and put some pressure on Byrd and Vaccaro in negotations. With the Saints relying so heavily on three safeties, there's really nobody behind them should one go down.

 

[Slaw]

I'd remove nickel CB and add safety.

We have TONS of slotty nickel types. Kyle Wilson was a good nickel the year before. Sterling Moore would be a fine nickel. Damian Swann could do it. B.W. Webb is available. Calhoun, Hightower, etc. are also nickel styles.

I'd rather have new safety to fill the vacancy left by the likely retiring Roman Harper and put some pressure on Byrd and Vaccaro in negotations. With the Saints relying so heavily on three safeties, there's really nobody behind them should one go down.

Erik Harris looked promising in camp. I think it could go either way. I'll be happy with either, so I'll just say DB for that one.

 

[WxM]

Erik Harris looked promising in camp. I think it could go either way. I'll be happy with either, so I'll just say DB for that one.

If he was that promising, he'd have been found on the field at any point before getting hurt this year. I think you have to put him in the total question mark category like Stephone Anthony and try to add someone else solid to the position. If Harris comes through, great, you have five safeties.

 

[B_doggman47]

I'd remove nickel CB and add safety.

We have TONS of slotty nickel types. Kyle Wilson was a good nickel the year before. Sterling Moore would be a fine nickel. Damian Swann could do it. B.W. Webb is available. Calhoun, Hightower, etc. are also nickel styles.

I'd rather have new safety to fill the vacancy left by the likely retiring Roman Harper and put some pressure on Byrd and Vaccaro in negotations. With the Saints relying so heavily on three safeties, there's really nobody behind them should one go down.

I agree with you on Slot and nickel CB's. we are well stocked with those types. What we need are boundry CB's. We need big cover CB's to match up with these big WR's in our division. We need to get one in FA and draft one.

 

[Slaw]

If he was that promising, he'd have been found on the field at any point before getting hurt this year. I think you have to put him in the total question mark category like Stephone Anthony and try to add someone else solid to the position. If Harris comes through, great, you have five safeties.

I think Harris is a total question mark for us, but not for the coaches. Armstead didn't play for a while at first, and now when healthy is one of the best in the league at his position. I'm not saying Harris is anything more than a special teamer, but we have no idea how the coaching staff views him. They may think a lot more highly of him than we think. But if not, I agree with you. I'm just saying it's a possibility.

 

[blackjack]

I don't think they will wait until the draft to get a pass rusher.

The fact that they have it listed as a must tells me they're going to address it maybe twice, FA and draft.

I don't think they can afford to go into the draft without signing someone and everyone knowing they need one and possibly jumping ahead of them.

 

[dutar76]

I'm bored, so I'm going to take my best guess at how we address these.

Musts:
Pass rusher - Derek Barnett - 1st round or Tim Williams - 2nd round (wishes were fishes)
Cornerback - Morris Claiborne - FA or Logan Ryan - FA

Needs:
Guard - Larry Warford - FA or Zeigler $$$ - FA
Middle linebacker - Kevin Minter - FA or Reuben Foster - 1st round

Wants:
Pass catching running back - Taquan Mizzell - 6th round YES
Weakside linebacker - Duke Riley - 4th round YES
Nickel cornerback - Tre'Davious White - 2nd round or Cordrea Tankersley - 3rd round
Removed QB and added:
Versatile pass rusher - Tyus Bowser - 3rd round or we have Kikaha adding T. Williams allows us to hope a little for him to return to health and form

QB - Chad Kelly - 7th round

this is fun...