We Aren't Blowing It Up, So What Now? (2 Viewers)

[Elvis]

Unfortunately, it feels like we’re going to be purgatory for a bit and for some reason ownership, the front office and coaching seem content with that. I don’t think many fans would be calling for everyone’s heads if they were communicating some sort of believable plan, but we’re not hearing that.

Unfortunately it will be left of to fans to be reactionary. Emptying seats at half time, signs calling out the decision makers, and unfortunately booing the team. Make the national and local press talk about it. Etc. nobody wants to do that stuff, but DA and Loomis are dismissive and need to be throttled a bit.

 

[St. Geezy]

Right but you just keep ignoring the fact that we basically have to bargain bin shop free agents and get teams cast offs while everyone else in the NFL can use free agency to improve their team. This is the part that gets forgotten while you champion the way the Saints do business. We only have the draft and I dont think we have the right people in the front office to draft our next crop of leaders. Everyone that we have "hit" on recently is at best good but not great. Its been a long time since we have drafted a difference maker.

We literally signed the game's highest paid free agent available just last year.

We generally have ALWAYS bargain-bin shopped in free agency as a philosophy, even in years when we had money. Only once every so often do we splurge on another team's player. We prefer to bargain shop and draft, and re-sign guys to big money contracts that we have seen perform well in our system and environment.

 

[Green-Ghost]

With the Kamara signing, it's obvious we aren't planning to blow this team up and rebuild in the off-season. That doesn't necessarily mean Dennis Allen will be retained, but there's probably a better-than-even chance he is.

With the roster, though, I think we can expect Derek Carr to be the starting QB again next year. If we had plans to dump him and his salary, we wouldn't be signing Kamara for the next two years just to create a black hole at the most important position. Honestly, I'm not mad about that. Carr is our best QB by far, he's on a team-friendly deal, and he's shown he can win when we have some semblance of an OL in front of him.

Since we aren't blowing it up, that makes getting under the cap a little simpler. We are going to simply do a series of restructures like always that will push the cap issues into 2026 and 2027.

So with that said, what do we do to fix this team? Booting Allen is the obvious answer, but player-wise, what do we need to fix this run defense? Can we build real depth in the offseason to avoid the issues we had this year? Those are the big questions heading into 2025.

I agree. Another question is how would this group of team members do with a new coach?

 

[rememberTHEsaints]

Keep doing what you're doing era is fun isnt it?

 

[Winsett]

So with that said, what do we do to fix this team? Booting Allen is the obvious answer, but player-wise, what do we need to fix this run defense? Can we build real depth in the offseason to avoid the issues we had this year? Those are the big questions heading into 2025.

I think the run D woes start with the interior.

The NTs and 1 techs in the Broncos game were getting walked back into the 2nd level and the rest of the DL wasn't consistently winning 1 on 1s. Then our LBs outside of Davis, who's lost a step, are inexperienced and are missing gap assignments. Werner being out hurts, but we could use another young, dominant player there with high end tools for development.
Safeties have been mediocre against the run. Honey Badger is not a physical, attacking presence in the run game and the other spot is manned by backup quality players.
Alontae Taylor has been pretty good against the run coming out of the slot, and is a willing tackler with good length, but he doesn't sift through traffic and make dynamic tackles behind the LOS quite as well as Chauncey Gardner did.

Starts with Free Agency and then the draft, and then requires some patience for young players to develop and improve.

Free Agency is hard to predict who actually ends up available, and our cap management style makes it impossible to know what to expect for spending. I imagine we'll do what we did last year - cheap affordable options in wave 2 or 3 of FA to massage the future cap, while adding 1 prominent name player coming off injury or a down year to a short term prove it deal for solid money at a key position of need (think Chase Young) to see if they can rebound.

Free Agency:
System fit vet WR who can win inside and offers RAC ability to move the chains who can man WR 1 or 2 in case of injury issues while Means develops. Prominent starter at Safety if Honey Badger leaves and wave 2 or 3 Strong Safety if Honey Badger is extended since the safety market is always an affordable place to shop in the off-season. Either trade Saunders or hope for rebound performance.

Example Options:
FS - Extend Honey Badger 1 year
DE - Extend Chase Young 2 years
WR - Chris Godwin on prove it deal coming off injury
Safety - Jevon Holland in wave 1 or Vonn Bell wave 2


Draft (currently looking at drafting at 5, but I do expect closer to 8-10):
R1 - DT or WR @5, OT/DE/WR @10
R2 - BPA that slips like short arm OT that moves to OG, DT, Safety, TE
R3 - Developmental Safety/Linebacker/OG
R4, R5, R7- BPA Depth

Between picks 5-10, we'll have a shot at a blue chip prospect in a draft that is said to not have many. There are quite a few OT prospects slated for mid 1st to 2nd round, and a couple of the popular names have been considered as OGs due to arm length. The DT class is expected to be pretty good, with late round 1-2 guys. The safety class is expected to be pretty good, with good options in round 2-3. DE has some talented guys that haven't put it all together. TE has a couple late 1st to early 2nd guys, but a big drop off after that.

Example:
R1 - Mason Graham DT (instant starter)
R2 - Wyatt Milium OT (possible starter at OT or OG, or primary backup)
R3 - Nick Emmanwori SS/NB (year 1 dime player or possible starter at SS)

I think you hope to come away from the draft with 1 decent rookie starter, 1 low end starter or 2nd string backup, and a couple developmental depth pieces. Any more than that is unreasonable expectations for year 1 after a draft IMO. But if we can hit on a couple draft picks and a couple FAs, I think we have a more solid looking situation going into 2025.

 

[Innominate]

We did this style of business for 15 years while Payton was here and it was highly successful. The difference was that we had a much better head coach that also contributed to talent evaluation. Fix the talent evaluation and coaching and you can do business however you want.

Anyway, they are working on getting the cap under control but it's not an instant fix. It should be fine in two years.

HOF QB didn't hurt either. Think we started resting on our laurels too. Or thinking we could keep finding diamonds in the rough every year

 

[Innominate]

Right but you just keep ignoring the fact that we basically have to bargain bin shop free agents and get teams cast offs while everyone else in the NFL can use free agency to improve their team. This is the part that gets forgotten while you champion the way the Saints do business. We only have the draft and I dont think we have the right people in the front office to draft our next crop of leaders. Everyone that we have "hit" on recently is at best good but not great. Its been a long time since we have drafted a difference maker.

I think part of it is evaluation too. Belichick(sp)? seemed to always bring in has been, or players at the end of their career, FA's that he could get to contribute and help the pats. Or put players in positions to succeed like Ninkovich.

In my opinion some of the best qualities in a coach is to have a player improve while they are with you and to put them in the best positions for them to have success with their abilities.

 

[St. Widge]

HOF QB didn't hurt either. Think we started resting on our laurels too. Or thinking we could keep finding diamonds in the rough every year

Yeah, a HoF QB fixes everything.

Which is why we need to keep drafting to find one. Whether it's a high round or low round pick they need to keep looking.

While I'm not happy about the idea of DA returning one thing it could mean is that we keep using the Shanahan/Kubiak system which I think is very QB friendly and allows young QBs to succeed quickly and grow in the system. It's also the perfect fit for AKs skills. I'd prefer if that didn't come with DA and we just had another Kubiak/Shanahan disciple, but I'm trying to look on the bright side.

But overall the talent evaluation and draft strategy needs to get better.

 

[Innominate]

Yeah, a HoF QB fixes everything.

Which is why we need to keep drafting to find one. Whether it's a high round or low round pick they need to keep looking.

While I'm not happy about the idea of DA returning one thing it could mean is that we keep using the Shanahan/Kubiak system which I think is very QB friendly and allows young QBs to succeed quickly and grow in the system. It's also the perfect fit for AKs skills. I'd prefer if that didn't come with DA and we just had another Kubiak/Shanahan disciple, but I'm trying to look on the bright side.

But overall the talent evaluation and draft strategy needs to get better.

I agree. But we are in a rut right now. DA is going to be here next year. So my thinking is, at what point next year do they walk away or stay with DA. Because at some point next year he will be a lame duck head coach or you extend him.

 

[St. Widge]

I agree. But we are in a rut right now. DA is going to be here next year. So my thinking is, at what point next year do they walk away or stay with DA. Because at some point next year he will be a lame duck head coach or you extend him.

Hopefully the year they walk away from DA is at the end of this year, but I'm not holding my breath. But you are right that the problem is that next year he would be coaching as a lame duck coach which isn't good. I think we will have a better idea this weekend if the team has given up on DA since they will finally be relatively healthy. If they have quit on him, I see 4 or 5 wins total and DA getting fired. If they haven't quit on him, I can see 7 or 8 wins total and him keeping his job.

But while I'm not sure Loomis is going to fire him after this year, I also don't see how he could give him an extension at this point. He likely coaches next year as a lame duck and he either earns an extension or his contract expires.

 

[solarbear88]

My guess is by Panthers game we should have most key people back.

From there on, they will be evaluating players and deciding which players are the future and which are not.

End of the season, they will decide whether they saw good enough play under DA to bring him back.

Next year they will try and add through the draft. Get rid of big contracts where they can. I wouldn't be surprised if they make a trade or two by the deadline to remove a contract like Lattimore to a contender. Jordan will probably retire. Ram won't be back. Not 100% sure what happens to those contracts but the cash will be spread out to greatly reduce its hit.

They will roll back next year hoping they have added depth to the lines in the draft and FA.

I expect any big moves to be done the year after if it still isn't working.

Loomis and Ireland are not very good at drafting, pinching players off other team's practice roster, or evaluating talent so I expect next year to be more of the same.

The only way that DA gets fired is if they get most guys back and still play terrible.

 

[DSnfla]

It's not surprising that our front 7 isn't good. I feel like every year I'm saying we need to draft a DE and a DT. I'm saying it again for 2025. This is our front 7 investment the past 7 years.

2024
5th Jaylan Ford LB - TBD
6th Kristian Boyd DT - TBD

2023
1st Bryan Bresee DT - Solid
2nd Isaiah Foskey DE - Bust

2022
6th Jordan Jackson DT - Bust

2021
1st Peyton Turner DE - Bust
2nd Pete Werner LB - Solid

2020
3rd Zach Baun LB - Gone

2019
7th Kaden Ellis LB - Gone

2018
1st Marcus Davenport DE - Gone

Anything past a late 4th rd can't be labeled a bust because most by a a big margin don't make an impact

 

[DSnfla]

I thought Adams re-signed a contract with the jets or was that just a restructure? I do love Jeanty, but the first team to jump on him is gonna be Dallas, especially after what they are seeing from Derrick Henry is doing for Baltimore.

To answer this question all depends for me on where they draft. If it's a high draft pick take the best D-line available. Though if Cam Ward is there, you have to think about it. Free Agency wise, I'd ask what Tee Higgins wants, and health pending, see what Chris Godwin is looking for.

Adams restructured, remains to be seen if they cut and resign him for future yrs

 

[Snakehead]

It seems like so long ago, but this offseason was positive overall with some good additions.

Penning getting right, that's huge.
Draft Fuaga, huge.
- Solidifying the OT positions is huge no matter what.
Draft Means, developmental X. That's a positive.
Draft Kool-Aid, huge considering how fast CBs go down.
Sign Hayball and Tipton as UDFAs, Hayball has the Punter position locked down and Tipton is carving out a role. That role might be a potentially more explosive Lance Moore, but maybe it can be a Shaheed KR/PR role to allow Shaheed to focus on WR.
Sign Willie Gay, that was a good signing especially with the age decline of DD.
Draft Rattler/Develop Haener, having young development backups with upside is good.

2024-2025 Offseason.
We currently have 6 picks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6

Areas of need:
NT/DT: We need someone with some size, somebody to stuff the run.

Interior OL: Street guys are probably okay for depth, but we need to put draft capital on the interior OL.

TE: We need a complete TE who can be a playmaker especially if we are going with a lot of TE sets.

WR: We need an X. Means might be that guy, but a playmaker at X would be better.

Who knows what Olave's future with concussions. We'll need an backup plan there.

Wr can address all of those positions in the draft.

 

[Brandon13]

This is why we were the most pessimistic fan base heading into the season: perpetually mediocre paired with a front office seemingly unwilling to change course.

We'll just have some other version of this again next year if DA is back, truly no reason to believe it'll be any better than it's been.