It wasn’t supposed to be this way. After all, the New Orleans Saints could have kept Drew Brees in the fold. After all, they could have kept Reggie Bush as well. And, after all, they didn’t have to release punter Thomas Morstead at all.
Sadly, the 2018 season for the New Orleans Saints has been a nightmare. But, despite all their problems, the team has still made it to the playoffs, and many fantasy football players are hoping that the team can take it all the way once again. However, it has been raining all week, and Pelicans are coming to town, so the Saints are going to have to win at least one playoff game. On top of that, Drew Brees says that he is not sure if he will be able to play in the playoffs. If the Saints can somehow avoid the first round, they will have to face the winner of the Atlanta-Carolina game, and given how well the Panthers have been playing, there is no way that they will lose.
The New Orleans Saints’ 2017 offseason got off to an inauspicious start when the franchise’s star running back, running back, and offensive visionary left town. They’re in even more of a fragile state now, after adding a new head coach and general manager just a few weeks ago. Now that the Saints have a few weeks to lick their wounds and reboot, it’s time to evaluate their offseason moves. The Saints’ free agent spending spree was underwhelming, and the Saints didn’t get much of a haul for their first-round pick. There’s nothing wrong with the upgrades that came along for the ride; however, their moves this offseason appear to be either reactionary or misguided.
The New Orleans Saints began their offseason by bidding farewell to the franchise’s most decorated athlete. Unfortunately for Saints supporters, losing Drew Brees to retirement was just the first setback for a team that was obviously not capable of winning the Super Bowl in 2023.
While the Saints still have a few proven players who should continue to perform at a high level this season, they seem to be a club that will miss the playoffs.
After all, their dreadful offseason has only gotten worse.
Over the past several months, New Orleans has suffered a series of setbacks.
The Saints have had a difficult offseason for a variety of reasons.
First, after Brees officially retired from the game, the quarterback position suffered a significant blow. Despite the fact that injuries stopped the great quarterback from performing to his normal levels during a difficult 2023 season, the future Hall of Famer clearly provided the club with consistency at the position for well over a decade. With Brees going on to the next chapter of his life, head coach Sean Payton must decide whether Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill offers him the best chance to win a Super Bowl.
Given Winston’s turnover issues and Hill’s limited experience, it’s unclear if either player can come close to filling Brees’ shoes.
The Saints lost more quality players from last year’s squad once free agency opened up. Trey Hendrickson signed a four-year, $60 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals after a 13.5-sack season. The Buffalo Bills have signed Emmanuel Sanders to a one-year, $6 million contract after he caught 61 receptions for 726 yards and five scores in 14 games. Several other starters left in free agency, including tight end Jared Cook, defensive lineman Malcom Brown, and cornerback Janoris Jenkins.
To make things worse, the Saints will be missing their most accomplished offensive talent for the 2023 season. Michael Thomas, the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year, unexpectedly postponed surgery to repair torn ligaments in his ankle until June. The highly-paid wideout, who was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp, is expected to return by Week 7 of the regular season.
Needless to say, it doesn’t bode well for an offense with a new starting quarterback to break in.
The Saints’ dreadful offseason has just gotten worse.
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon of the San Francisco 49ers breaks free from New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill’s block to tackle wide receiver Deonte Harris. | Getty Images/Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire
Unfortunately for the Saints, their dreadful offseason has just gotten worse. Due to Thomas’ choice to postpone his surgery, New Orleans may be without a wideout for an extended period of time.
Deonte Harris was detained earlier this month for reportedly driving under the influence of alcohol, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football on Twitter on Thursday, July 29. The All-Pro punt returner was allegedly detained in Maryland around 1:27 a.m. on July 16.
Underhill added, “These circumstances usually result in a two-game suspension.”
Obviously, the legal process must take its course, and the NFL has its own set of procedures for dealing with off-field disciplinary problems. However, even the possibility of a Harris suspension is a setback for the Saints. The passing attack already seemed weak due to Thomas’ prolonged recuperation and the dearth of experienced players at the position. The repercussions from Harris’ arrest, on the other hand, may deplete the Saints’ depth at the position at the start of the season.
When you look at New Orleans as a whole, it’s obvious that Payton’s squad has a difficult challenge if it wants to reach the playoffs again.
If Sean Payton’s squad misses the playoffs for the first time since 2016, don’t be shocked.
Is there any star power among the Saints?
Absolutely.
Is there a possibility they’ll finish with a losing record in 2023?
The answer, unfortunately for Saints supporters, is yes.
Alvin Kamara is undeniably a stud. The offensive line also has two outstanding tackles (Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk) as well as a homegrown interior trio of Andrus Peat, Erick McCoy, and Cesar Ruiz. However, it’s difficult to get enthusiastic about a Saints offense that will be without its No. 1 receiver for the foreseeable future. Plus, how can anybody consider New Orleans among the NFL’s top teams given the QB situation?
In addition, the Saints’ defense may take a step back. Without Hendrickson and Jenkins in the lineup, the unit appears less formidable after ranking sixth in points allowed in 2023. Remember that defensive end Cameron Jordan, a Pro Bowler, turned 32 in July and is coming off his least productive season since 2014. Is there enough left in the tank for him to put up another double-digit sack season? Is it possible that his greatest days are behind him?
In the end, New Orleans will have to answer a lot of questions in the following months. However, given the strength of the NFC and some of the offseason problems, it seems like the Saints will take a significant step back from their 12-4 record in 2023.
Pro Football Reference provided all statistics. Spotrac provided all contract information.
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The New Orleans Saints have been one of the league’s most underrated teams for the past several seasons. They reached the playoffs in 2015, went to the NFC Championship game in 2014, once again reached the postseason in 2013, and won the NFC South in 2012. So where did this team go wrong? The Saints made one of the worst trades in NFL history when they traded star tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks. Graham was the team’s most valuable offensive weapon, and the team’s offense suffered as a result. The Saints also had to give up their first-round pick, their second-round pick, and their third-round pick to Seattle. This is a team that has been doing well and has one of the best offenses in the. Read more about saints news and let us know what you think.
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