Whatever you call it, the Saints' future looks bright if team sticks together (1 Viewer)

[Andrus]

Whether it was intended or not, two years ago the Saints started down a path that led them to this point.

New Orleans has never publicly admitted that the franchise was rebuilding the past two seasons. Using such a phrase would be conceding something about the present. Rebuilding teams aren’t expected to win or compete. It’s throwing in the towel in the short term, and this team, despite enduring bumps and bruises, never expected or accepted the losses that piled up the past few years.

But the trade of tight end Jimmy Graham, at least to outsiders, seemed to signify a change in direction. The team took a step back to take a step forward. Center Max Unger filled a major need, but the draft compensation acquired in the deal was for the future. At least to some degree, there was one eye on the future the past two years, even if the team continued to compete in the interim.

The benefit of the pick acquired in the trade, which was used to select linebacker Stephone Anthony, has been negligible. But even with the potential miss, New Orleans has done a good job the past two seasons bringing in young, impactful players and making other smaller moves in free agency to rebuild the middle class of the roster and add depth...

BY NICK UNDERHILL

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