The Sports Xchange
NFL Team Report – New Orleans Saints – INSIDE SLANT
After filling some holes in their depth chart through free agency — particularly at cornerback, outside linebacker, defensive end and safety — the Saints have some options going into the draft.
In an effort to fix a defense that set an NFL single-season record in allowing 7,042 yards last season, the Saints had to do a lot of renovation work in the last six weeks — especially with a switch to a 3-4 front.
They have to believe that they at least got off to a good start in signing cornerback Keenan Lewis and outside linebacker Victor Butler, a couple of potential starters, as well as defensive end Kenyon Coleman and safety Jim Leonhard.
The Saints also moved Junior Galette and Martez Wilson, who played defensive end in their 4-3 scheme last season, to outside linebacker to gain more flexibility in the draft.
With the 15th overall pick, the Saints can go a number of ways when commissioner Roger Goodell puts them on the clock.
They could have a shot at grabbing a dynamic pass-rushing outside linebacker because one of their goals will be to pressure the quarterback more effectively than they have in recent years.
Or, they could look to offense. While that didn’t seem likely just after the 2012 season ended with the defense finishing dead last in the league in total defense and rush defense as well as 31st against the pass and points allowed, it could make sense on Draft Day.
The Saints lost two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jermon Bushrod to the Chicago Bears in free agency and a quality replacement to protect Drew Brees’ blind side must be considered.
While the Saints have Charles Brown returning, he has limited starting experience and hasn’t been durable and finished the past two seasons on injured reserve even though he did a decent job in replacing an injured Zach Strief at right tackle last season.
They also signed former St. Louis Rams tackle Jason Smith, the second overall pick of the 2009 draft, but don’t really know what he’ll be able to give them — if anything.
That could lead them to choosing a tackle, if one of the higher-ranked players in a deep crop is still there when their turn comes up.
A top tackle could also come in handy for the future because Strief, who has started the past two seasons, could be an unrestricted free agent after this season. If Brown stays healthy, they could be set for the future.
They also could trade down — if they have a willing partner — and perhaps recoup the second-round pick they forfeited as part of the bounty punishment handed down by Goodell.
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NFL Team Report – New Orleans Saints – NOTES, QUOTES
–Barring a trade or two, the Saints will have five selections in this year’s draft — including a first-round pick.
The Saints earned the 15th selection in the first round after a 7-9 season, but won’t have a second-round pick after forfeiting it as part of the bounty punishment handed down by commissioner Roger Goodell.
They’ll have single selections in the third (No. 75 overall), fourth (No. 109), fifth (No. 144) and sixth (No. 183) rounds. Their seventh-round pick went to the Seattle Seahawks in a training camp trade for linebacker Barrett Ruud, who was later released.
–After signing quarterback Luke McCown as a possible backup for Drew Brees, the Saints added another veteran at the position last week to create a little competition for the No. 2 job.
Former Seahawks and Cleveland Browns quarterback Seneca Wallace, a nine-year veteran, signed a one-year deal with the Saints after McCown signed a one-year contract earlier this month.
The 5-11, 205-pound Wallace has appeared in 62 games with 21 starts, completing 452 of 764 passes for 4,808 yards with 31 touchdowns, 18 interceptions and a 84.5 passer rating. A fourth-round draft pick of the Seahawks in 2003, Wallace is also a running threat with 68 carries for 293 yards and a touchdown.
Chase Daniel, who was Brees’ understudy for the past three seasons, left the team in free agency and signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
–Restricted free agent Chris Ivory, who is stuck in a crowded Saints’ backfield, visited with the New York Jets last week.
Ivory was offered a one-year tender of $2.023 million in March, which carried a second-round draft pick as compensation.
All indications were that the Jets have no intention of parting with that high of a pick to get Ivory, who could again be competing this season with Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Travaris Cadet for playing time.
–The Saints now know the exact dates and times for their four preseason games.
The NFL announced two weeks ago that the Saints would play all of their exhibition games against AFC foes, but the only one that had an exact date was for a nationally-televised Aug. 25 game with the Houston Texans.
Their two home games will be played on a Friday at 7 p.m. as they open with the Chiefs on Aug. 9 and face the Oakland Raiders on Aug. 16. After their meeting with the Texans on Aug. 25, they’ll play at the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m. to wrap up the preseason.
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NFL Team Report – New Orleans Saints – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
TEAM NEEDS
Linebacker: Even though they moved Junior Galette from defensive end to outside linebacker and signed Victor Butler, the Saints could still be eyeing some depth at the position.
Tackle: Despite the change in defensive scheme to a 3-4, this became a higher priority when they lost Pro Bowl tackle Jermon Bushrod to the Bears and could target one. They signed former No. 1 pick Jason Smith, but he is far from a sure thing.
Safety: Even if Rob Ryan likes incumbent starters Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper, who didn’t have the best season in 2012, they could seek more help here. Jim Leonhard was signed, but that’s only a start.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (5)
–DT Sedrick Ellis, a top-10 draft pick in 2008, hasn’t shown much in the past three seasons and may want money than the Saints are willing to pay.
–WR Devery Henderson has seen his role diminished and likely won’t be back with Joseph Morgan developing into Brees’ new deep threat.
–CB Elbert Mack was released several times during the season, but had some moments in the nickel and may or may not be re-signed.
–T William Robinson was a fill-in because of injuries last season, but could be re-signed.
–LB Scott Shanle, a six-year starter, was a healthy inactive for much of the second half of the season and likely won’t be offered a new deal.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (1)
–RB Chris Ivory (tendered at $2.023M with second-round pick as compensation) has been bothered by leg injuries the last two seasons.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
–S Rafael Bush: Potential ERFA; $555,000/1 yr.
–C Brian de la Puente: RFAa tendered at $2.023M with second-round pick as compensation; $2.023M/1 yr.
–LS Justin Drescher: Not tendered as RFA; 4 yrs, terms unknown.
–LB Junior Galette: Potential RFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
–TE Michael Higgins: Potential ERFA: $555,000/1 yr.
–LB Ramon Humber: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–LB Will Herring: FA, had been released by Saints; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–G Eric Olsen: Potential ERFA; $555,000/1 yr.
–WR Courtney Roby: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
–LB Victor Butler: UFA Cowboys; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
–DE Kenyon Coleman: UFA Cowboys; terms unknown.
–S Jim Leonhard: UFA Broncos; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–CB Keenan Lewis: UFA Steelers; $26M/5 yrs, $6M SB/$11M guaranteed.
–QB Luke McCown: UFA Falcons; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–DE Jay Richardson: FA: $715,000/1 yr.
–T Jason Smith: FA Jets; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–QB Seneca Wallace: FA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–TE Benjamin Watson: UFA Browns; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
–T Jermon Bushrod: UFA Bears; $36M/5 yrs, $11M SB/$17.715M guaranteed.
–LB Jonathan Casillas: UFA Buccaneers; $3M/1 yr.
–QB Chase Daniel: UFA Chiefs; $10M/3 yrs, $3M SB/$4.8M guaranteed.
–DE Turk McBride: UFA Bears; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–CB Johnny Patrick (released)
–TE David Thomas (released)
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