A three-game losing streak to open the season all but doomed the New Orleans Saints to their third straight season without a trip to the playoffs. The 2016 version of the Saints finished 7-9, but they lost seven games by six points or less. This is a team that, with just one extra tackle, 10-yard run, or catch could have made the playoffs last season.
But every year brings in a new squad and while there are facts that are eternal (Drew Brees will throw for a lot of yards), the guys on the team change from year to year. Let’s take a look at how general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Sean Payton put together the roster for New Orleans’ 2017 campaign.
Free Agents Kept
Nick Fairley, Defensive Tackle
Tavaris Cadet, Running Back
Sterling Moore, Cornerback
Darryl Tapp, Defensive End
Sterling Moore, Cornerback
Free Agents/Players Gained
Chase Daniel, Quarterback, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles
Ted Ginn, Wide Receiver, formerly of the Carolina Panthers
A.J. Klein, Middle Linebacker, formerly of the Carolina Panthers
Alex Okafor, Outside Linebacker, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals
Adrian Peterson, Running Back, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings
Manti Te’o, Inside Linebacker, formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers
Larry Warford, Offensive Guard, formerly of the Detroit Lions
Tony McDaniel, Defensive Tackle, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks
Free Agent/Players Players Lost
Brandin Cooks, Wide Receiver, traded to the New England Patriots
Jake Stoneburner, Tight End, currently a free agent
Luke McCown, Quarterback, currently a free agent
Avery Young, Offensive Lineman, signed with the Miami Dolphins
Jairus Byrd, Safety, currently a free agent
2017 NFL Draft
Round 1: Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback, Ohio State
Round 1: Ryan Ramczyk, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin
Round 2: Alvin Kamara, Running Back, Tennessee
Round 3: Alex Anzalone, Linebacker, Florida
Round 3: Trey Hendrickson, Outside Linebacker, Florida Atlantic
Round 6: Al-Quadin Muhammad, Defensive End, Miami
Proposed Offensive Starters
QB: Drew Brees
RB: Mark Ingram
WR: Michael Thomas
WR: Willie Snead
WR: Ted Ginn
TE: Coby Fleener
LT: Ryan Ramczyk
RT: Zach Strief
LG: Andrus Peat
RG: Larry Warford
C: Senio Kelemete
Offensive Outlook
The biggest off-season acquisition for the Saints is unquestionably former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson has bounced back from injuries before to return to his Pro Bowl form and certainly that’s what New Orleans is betting on by signing him. I’m still plugging in Mark Ingram as the starter at running back. Last year Ingram averaged 5.1 yards per carry on his way to 1,043 yards and six touchdowns to go with 46 catches, 319 yards and four touchdowns. I’m sure Payton will find a way to use rookie Alvin Kamara, but I don’t see a lot of touches for him. He’ll probably return kicks and maybe punts.
Up front, this was an elite NFL unit last season, but there are a couple of shake ups in the 2017 version of the offensive line. I’ve plugged in back up Senio Kelemete as the starter at center since Max Unger will likely begin the season on the PUP list. When Unger is healthy, the job is his. Andrus Peat moves into guard full time after moving between that spot and left tackle last season. I give the starting left tackle nod to rookie Ryan Ramczyk, because the only other option is Peat or journeyman Khalif Barnes who the Saints, literally, cut four times last season. But, hey, that means they’ve signed him five times.
Brandin Cooks is gone at wide receiver, traded to the New England Patriots for a first round pick. Willie Snead and Michael Thomas will start on the outside, with Tedd Ginn Jr. replacing Cooks as the deep threat. Thomas, as a rookie, caught 92 passes for 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Snead’s production should take a jump with Cooks gone. Last year he caught 72 passes for 895 yards and four touchdowns.
Drew Brees remains the man. He just turned 38 and is coming off seventh season where he led the NFL in passing yards and his fifth season leading the NFL in completions. He also tossed his fourth 5,000 yard passing season and hasn’t thrown fewer than 32 touchdowns since 2007.
Proposed Defensive Starters
DE: Alex Okafor
DE: Cameron Jordan
DT: Tony McDaniel
DT: Sheldon Rankins
OLB: Stephone Anthony
OLB: Dannell Ellerbe
MLB: Craig Robinson
CB: Marshon Lattimore
CB: Sterling Moore
FS: Vonn Bell
SS: Kenny Vaccaro
Defensive Outlook
First round draft pick Marshon Lattimore fell right to the Saints and plugs right into their starting line up at corner. Sterling Moore, after years as a journeyman, solidified himself on the outside last season and started 12 games with 56 tackles, 13 passes defended and two interceptions. The Saints have a couple of talented corners that could push him in P.J. Williams and Delvin Breaux. Kennu Vaccaro and Vonn Bell are solid at safety, with Bell able to play multiple positions if need be. Last year the team used him at corner, linebacker and safety in different packages.
Last season the Saints threw every linebacker they had on the team at some point. They lucked into the emergence of Craig Robertson, who led the team with 114 tackles to go with a sack, two fumble recoveries, four passes defended and one interception. Daniell Ellerbe missed a lot of last season with injuries, but should take back over outside. Stephone Anthony is your best bet to start on the other side, but Nathan Stupar or rookie Alex Anzalone could steal this job in camp. Hell, this could be where free agent Manti Te’o ends up.
Up front, the Saints added Arizona Cardinals back up Alex Okafor at defensive end. Before he got sent to the bench, Okafor was a solid starter and recorded 34 tackles and eight sacks in 2014. Cameron Jordan remains solid on the outside. Nick Fairley should be listed as a starter but a recent heart diagnosis has put his NFL future in doubt. Shelden Rankins has one defensive tackle spot nailed down and I’ve plugged free agent acquisition Tony McDaniel into the second.
Grade: B-
The Saints should be better on defense thanks to healthy players returning and drafting Lattimore in the secondary. On offense, this remains a deadly group but the jury is still out on how much an impact Peterson will have.
O/U wins: 7/5
Preseason Schedule
Week 1: at Cleveland Browns
Week 2: at Los Angeles Rams
Week 3: Houston Texans
Week 4: Baltimore Ravens
Regular Season Schedule
Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 2: New England Patriots
Week 3: at Carolina Panthers
Key game: The Saints open their division schedule against a team I think will bounce back this season, the Carolina Panthers. The Saints can prove me wrong early and get a jump on the NFC South with a win on the road.
Week 4: at Miami Dolphins
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Detroit Lions
Week 7: at Green Bay Packers
Week 8: Chicago Bears
Week 9: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 10: at Buffalo Bills
Week 11: Washington Redskins
Week 12: at Los Angeles Rams
Week 13: Carolina Panthers
Week 14: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 15: New York Jets
Week 16: Atlanta Falcons
Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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