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Saints Envision Jameis Winston Starting Week 1

May 9th, 2022 at 12:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Saints were one of the finalists to acquire Deshaun Watson, but they ultimately brought back a familiar face to be their starting quarterback for the immediate future. Jameis Winston is recovering from a torn ACL, but new head coach Dennis Allen plans on him being healthy to start the 2022 season. 

When speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, Allen was asked about Winston’s recovery (video link). “I think he’s doing well in the rehab process” he said, adding that “he’s working his tail off and really doing a really good job in the rehab and I like where he’s at”. That would point to the 28-year-old being ready for the fall, as was reported in March.

When asked if Winston was, as of now, seen as the Week 1 starter, Allen answered, “well… that’s certainly the plan. There’s a lot of days between now and Week 1, but we certainly like where he’s at right now. We like the progress that he’s making… My vision and my hope is that he continues to progress on the same level as he gets another year in the system.”

After a turnover-filled tenure with the Buccaneers, the former No. 1 pick headed to New Orleans as Drew Brees‘ backup. His level of play as the starter last season, though – 1,170 yards, 14 touchdown passes and three interceptions in seven games prior to the injury – earned him a two-year extension. The team also signed veteran Andy Dalton as his backup, and declined to add a developmental signal-caller during the draft.

That leaves Winston as the No. 1 heading into a season which, the Saints hope, can see significant improvement in the passing game. A healthy Michael Thomas, first-round receiver Chris Olave and, of course, a fully recovered Winston would go a long way to accomplishing that goal.

RB Sony Michel To Visit Dolphins, Saints

May 4th, 2022 at 7:56pm CST by Ben Levine

There aren’t many RBs with first-round pedigree and 1,000-yard seasons still on the market. One of them, Sony Michel, is starting to generate some interest around the NFL. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter), Michel visited the Dolphins today and is set to meet with the Saints later this week.

Michel was the 31st-overall pick in the 2018 draft, and he immediately played a role for the Patriots. He finished his rookie campaign with 981 yards from scrimmage, but he made a name for himself with his postseason performance. In three playoff games, Michel collected 345 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl championship.

The running back continued his production in 2019, finishing with 1,006 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns. However, he found himself in and out of New England’s RB rotation in 2020, and he was traded to the Rams prior to the 2021 campaign. During his lone season with the Rams, Michel collected 973 yards from scrimmage, and he added another 72 yards in four postseason games.

The Dolphins have been busy adding to the running backs room this offseason, signing Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert to join Myles Gaskins in Miami’s backfield. The Saints also added a former player in Mark Ingram, with Alvin Kamara once again leading the depth chart.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/3/22

May 3rd, 2022 at 7:22pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Waived: WR Chris Finke

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

Saints Expected To Sign Tyrann Mathieu

May 2nd, 2022 at 9:06am CST by Adam La Rose

9:06 AM: New Orleans has, for a while now, been seen as the favorite to land safety Tyrann Mathieu. It appears they have indeed added the veteran, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (on Twitter) that the Saints are “expected to sign” him in the coming days.

3:40 PM: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the deal is indeed in place, and will be officially signed shortly (Twitter link). Mathieu will earn $33MM over three years, with $18MM fully guaranteed.

It was reported yesterday that the Saints would make an “aggressive push” for the soon-to-be 30-year-old. The deal would represent a homecoming for the New Orleans native who played at LSU in college. It would also mark his fourth career NFL team, after he had a one-year stint in Houston between stays in Arizona and Kansas City.

It was with the Chiefs that Mathieu had the bulk of his individual and collective success. He added two more Pro Bowls and All-Pro nods to his resume, and won his lone Super Bowl during his three seasons there. A starter and valued team leader throughout that time, he totalled 13 interceptions in Kansas City, showcasing his positional versatility along the way.

The Chiefs moved on in free agency, however, signing Justin Reid to take over Mathieu’s starting role. That led to speculation the Saints – who lost Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins this offseason – could be interested in the All-Decade member. The team has already signed Marcus Maye and ex-Chief Daniel Sorensen, but they avoided drafting a safety this weekend. Meanwhile, teams like the Rams and Steelers showed interest, and the Eagles hosted him on a free agent visit as well.

Assuming the deal isn’t officially signed until after 3 PM central time, the Chiefs won’t be in line for a 2023 compensatory pick. The Saints, meanwhile, will add a hometown player as a key part of their rebuilt safety room.

Saints Announce 17 Undrafted Free Agent Signings

May 1st, 2022 at 6:09pm CST by Ely Allen

The Saints are one of the first teams after the 2022 NFL Draft to officially announce their undrafted free agent class. Here’s New Orleans’ full list:

New Orleans only had five draft picks after having to forfeit a sixth-round pick due to COVID-19 violations, so their UDFA class was going to be important for adding depth.

After seeing Marcus Williams depart for Baltimore in free agency, the Saints were seeking some depth at safety. After failing to address the position in the Draft, the team has reportedly picked up its pursuit of free agent Tyrann Mathieu. They also signed some UDFAs with safety potential for some cheaper depth options.

They were able to nab some quality names like Monday and Pryor and managed to bring in some camp competition for kicker Wil Lutz and punter Blake Gillikin.

Saints To Pursue Tyrann Mathieu

May 1st, 2022 at 1:12pm CST by Rory Parks

The Saints did not select a safety during the 2022 draft, and as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports, they are expected to make an “aggressive push” to sign free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu. The club met with Mathieu — a New Orleans native and former LSU Tiger — in early April but elected to wait until after the draft to explore a contract in earnest.

New Orleans has already added Marcus Maye and Daniel Sorensen in free agency, but given Sorensen’s coverage limitations and Maye’s season-ending Achilles tear in 2021, there is still room for a player of Mathieu’s caliber. That is especially true in light of Marcus Williams‘ free agent defection to Baltimore and Malcolm Jenkins‘ retirement.

Mathieu, who will turn 30 later this month, has suited up for the Cardinals, Texans, and Chiefs in his NFL career. Each of his three years in Kansas City ended with Pro Bowl or First Team All-Pro honors, and he racked up 213 tackles, 13 interceptions, 27 passes defensed, and two defensive TDs during that time. He was instrumental to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV outfit and their 2021 AFC Championship.

Despite those contributions, the Chiefs decided against offering him a contract this offseason. That decision and Mathieu’s extended stay on the open market qualify as something of a surprise, though we do not know what type of money he is seeking. It’s also possible that he is not being valued as highly as his raw totals would suggest; in the 2020-21 campaigns, Pro Football Focus graded him as an average to slightly-above average defender, and an ever-increasing reliance on advanced metrics could be suppressing his market.

Nonetheless, his pedigree in terms of traditional statistical achievements, not to mention his positional versatility and leadership qualities, would seem to make him a valuable addition to any number of clubs. In addition to the Saints, Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News believes the 49ers — who also came out of the draft without filling their safety need — could be in play (Twitter link). The Rams and Steelers were also said to be interested, though Pittsburgh’s recent safety additions would seem to foreclose the possibility of a Mathieu signing.

The Eagles may also loom as a potential landing spot. Mathieu met with Philadelphia shortly after his visit with the Saints.

Saints WR Deonte Harris Signs RFA Tender

April 29th, 2022 at 1:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

It wasn’t the biggest wide receiver news of the night, but on Thursday Deonte Harris signed his RFA tender to remain with the Saints (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates). The 24-year-old will stay in New Orleans for at least one more season. 

[RELATED: Saints Move Up To No. 11, Select WR Olave]

Harris made an impact at the start of his career as the team’s primary returner. In 2019, he averaged 26.8 yards on kickoffs; he also led the league in punt returns (36) and yards (338), running one back for a touchdown. His special teams prowess earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, and has remained a staple of his game.

Given the state of the team’s WR corps this season, though, Harris took on a much larger offensive role. In the absence of Michael Thomas, he became a key figure in the Saint’s passing game. Despite only starting one of 13 games, he totalled 36 catches for 570 yards and three touchdowns. Not surprisingly, given his speed, he averaged an impressive 15.8 yards per reception. His offensive totals would have been higher if not for a three-game suspension he served in December for a DWI arrest.

Given that Harris was offered a second-round tender, he will earn just under $4MM in 2022. He may revert more towards his more familiar special teams role given the expected return of Thomas and the team’s addition of Chris Olave last night. If not, though, he has proven an ability to be at least a complimentary piece in the receiving corps.

Saints Move Up To Select Chris Olave At No. 11

April 28th, 2022 at 8:26pm CST by Ely Allen

The Saints traded the Commanders their No. 16, 98, and 120 picks to move up in the 2022 NFL Draft and take Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave at No. 11 overall. 

In four years with the Buckeyes, Olave put up consistent receiving numbers despite a healthy competition for targets. In his final three campaigns, he totaled 163 receptions for 2,505 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Olave led the team in 2019 and 2020 before seeing his production out-matched by teammate and fellow first-round draft pick Garrett Wilson. Both receivers were out-produced by sophomore receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, though.

Still, Olave displayed consistency, talent, and leadership through his time in Columbus. He’ll head down to New Orleans to help the Saints compete in the NFC South.

Saints Willing To Move Up Or Down In First Round

April 28th, 2022 at 3:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

The middle and later stages of tonight’s first round are expected to house most of the trade action which could take place. That makes the Saints one of the most important teams to watch. It comes as little surprise, then, that New Orleans has been calling other teams regarding moves up and down the board (Twitter link via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler). 

After their deal with the Eagles, the Saints own the 16th and 19th overall picks. That likely puts them in range of some – if not all – of the top quarterbacks in the class. If the team does elect to add a signal-caller, it appears their preference would be either Kenny Pickett or Matt Corral. With that said, the team has already re-signed Jameis Winston and added veteran backup Andy Dalton, leading some to believe other positions could be of greater concern to them.

The two positions most referenced along those lines are offensive tackle and wide receiver. In need of a Terron Armstead replacement, Trevor Penning will likely be the top blocker still available at 16, so a move up to select a top-tier option like Charles Cross wouldn’t come as a surprise. Likewise, the team would, in all likelihood, need to move into the top 10 (or thereabouts) to be in range of wideouts such as Drake London, Jameson Williams and Garrett Wilson as they look to boost last year’s passing game.

If the top options at those positions are off the board by the middle of the round, though, a trade down would become a possibility. The strength of this class is said to be truly seen on Day 2; especially if the team chooses not to add a quarterback, then, and a run on the position occurs in the 20s, moving down could become mutually beneficial for the Saints and a QB-hungry team.

Like all Day 1 trades, the ultimate decisions teams make will become known in a matter of hours. Depending on how the top of the board shakes out, New Orleans could become one of the most active teams, and therefore one worth keeping an eye on.

Saints High On Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral?

April 27th, 2022 at 4:37pm CST by Ben Levine

It remains to be seen if the Saints will end up selecting a quarterback during the first round of tomorrow’s draft. However, if they do, one faction of the organization could be disappointed. According to Albert Breer of SI.com, the Saints front office likes Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett while the coaches seem to prefer Ole Miss’ signal caller Matt Corral.

There have been some recent rumblings that the Saints could use one of their two first-round selections on a quarterback, especially after the organization hosted Corral, Pickett, Liberty’s Malik Willis, and UNC passer Sam Howell on top-30 visits. The front office had made it clear that they didn’t make their trade with the Eagles with the goal of selecting a quarterback, but the move certainly set them up if one of their preferred prospects falls in their lap.

The Saints added Andy Dalton to pair with Jameis Winston, and regardless of what happens in the draft, one of the veterans will likely be under center come the start of the 2022 season. Dalton’s one-year pact and Winston’s two-year extension (which is effectively a one-year deal) certainly won’t preclude the organization from selecting a rookie QB, especially after the team made it clear that Taysom Hill will no longer be considered for the position.

Armed with No. 16 and No. 19, the Saints will have two decisions to make tomorrow night. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, sources believe the Saints are positioning themselves to get one of the draft’s top offensive tackles after losing Terron Armstead. Other sources believe the front office could be targeting a wide receiver.

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