A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

The salary cap will once again be a hurdle for the New Orleans Saints in 2014. They're already $12.5 million over the projected cap of $126.6 million, according to ESPN's John Clayton. And that's even before signing unrestricted tight end Jimmy Graham, who will certainly become the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.

Recent history suggests the Saints will still find a way to keep their core players and even add one or two key free agent signings. But it will require both some creative restructuring of contracts and some difficult decisions to part ways with some longtime veterans.

Here's a breakdown of some of the key decisions looming this offseason:

FREE AGENTS:

Unrestricted free agent starters: TE Jimmy Graham, RT Zach Strief, C Brian de la Puente, S Malcolm Jenkins, OLB Parys Haralson, K Shayne Graham.

Unrestricted free agent reserves: WR Robert Meachem, OT Charles Brown, QB Luke McCown, LB Jonathan Vilma, LB Will Herring, LB Ramon Humber, LB Keyunta Dawson, DE Kenyon Coleman, S Jordan Pugh

Restricted free agents: FB Jed Collins, WR Joe Morgan, S Rafael Bush, DE Tom Johnson

Thoughts: First of all, this is not a bad list, with only four full-time players on it. Teams, including the Saints, have faced much worse in past years.

The only no-brainer who will definitely be re-signed is Graham. He will be back at any cost, even if it means a fight over his franchise tag designation (tight end vs. wide receiver). It would be a win-win for both sides if they would avoid the franchise tag altogether and structure a cap-friendly long-term deal. But it's obviously possible that the negotiations may go on longer than expected, because Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and agent Jimmy Sexton will be breaking new ground on this deal.

After Graham, I would put Strief, de la Puente and Jenkins in the same boat. I think the Saints like all of them (Strief and Jenkins are both captains) and would very much like to have all of them back at the right price. But I wouldn't be shocked to see the Saints let any of them go if they get bigger offers elsewhere (like Scott Fujita, Jonathan Goodwin, Carl Nicks, Jermon Bushrod, etc., from years past).

I could also see the Saints bringing back guys like Haralson, Meachem and a handful of others from this list if the price is bare bones.

Another interesting name on this list is kicker Shayne Graham. He looked like a lock for a 2014 roster spot after being a playoff hero in Round 1. Then he missed both of his field-goal attempts at Seattle. I still like his chances of coming back and at least competing for the job. All kickers will miss occasionally, but I've got to think the Saints liked what they saw from him as a cool-headed veteran with a lot of experience under his belt.

As for the restricted free agents, I could see all of them coming back -- especially Collins and Bush. They might have to give those guys second-round tenders, though, which will probably cost more than $2 million each.

Read more: A look at the New Orleans Saints' 2014 roster decisions - ESPN

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Well done. ESPN doesn't deserve Mike Triplett.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

I would put Jenkins higher on that list. The fact that he can move between S and CB helps him plus his upside may be realized sooner rather than later.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

I would let Jenkins walk, walk, walk.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Why? Do you think he will want to much $$$. With a decent contract he is still better than 75% of the Safeties in the league. Take teams like San Fran, Seattle and Carolina and their safeties are helped by those D-Lines/LBs. Of course they look pretty. And Seattle has better CBs that help their Safeties way too much. Put Jenk on one of those teams and he would be a superstar.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Thank You. Malcolm Jenkins is far from the problem on our team. Getting rid of him will only cause other problems. We need him back.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Jenkins has been paid as a top 20 S in this league, anyone thinks he has preformed as a Top 20 S?

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Id have him back at the right price but Bush is a more pressing issue.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Can you name 19 better Safeties without researching them?

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Does the CAP increase some ?

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Media are saying it will be around $126ml.
Looks like all that extra tv money is going to the ex players lawsuit

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

I don't think so!! He wouldn't even come close!! Bad comparing him to Earl Thomas. Thomas is a great FS, Jenkins really isn't FS material.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Don't get too used to Stief. I have that feeling that he is going to wear a new helmet next year.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Earl thomas is really good but I wouldn't say great. When he's not running through receivers backs to make plays he's usually cleaning up other peoples tackles. There is nothing wrong with that but when you get him one on one he is nowhere near as formidable as people make him out to be. There are even times where he looks a little like harper out there whiffing on one on one tackles.

Ed reed was a great safety, Rod woodson was a great safety, Darren sharper was a great saftey. Earl Thomas is a really good safety playing on a team stacked with dline and db talent. Just watch the san fran game this weekend. If he gets caught on boldin, crabtree or davis one on one you will see what I'm talking about.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Am I the only one who does not like Strief? I cant wait to get rid of him.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

If Rob Ryan wants to keep Jenkins then I want to keep Jenkins.

Of course, this assumes that we are able to keep Rob Ryan. Man, I sure hope we are able to do so.

Next season is going to be awesome because we will be getting back soooooo many starters on defense.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

If it is 126m:

We presently have 133m in active contracts
1.6m in carry over
750k in dead money
900k for PS
-----------------
We are 7M over before we make any changes.



Smith frees up 11m
Sproles frees up 3.5

We would have 7.5m to play with. I listed those two because cutting them would not need to involve back fill. We have plenty enough RBs to do with out a replacement for Sproles.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Btw a big chunk of our cap space for next year is for Will Smith's bloated contract. I think maybe 12 million of it. We cut Will Smith and restructure other contracts all of a sudden we've got money to play with.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Not too bad considering the doom the media cap watchers have been predicting. I guess thts why they write for the press and Loomis looks cool as a cucumber and gets paid the big bucks.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

The Terron Armstead miracle these past few games has made me feel like, basically, almost everybody is expendable or upgrade-able in some form or other. Realistically, Evans and Grubbs were good, but I'm tired of this year's line woes -- we should be expecting SO MUCH from our line, give our history of having great lines. We are used to being excellent in that area, and we deserve to be completely spoiled about THAT -- protecting Drew and having All Pro lines is what this team is all about. We CANNOT keep going, living in the past, with a deteriorating team that's getting slower and fatter and more and more expensive, growing longer and longer in the tooth. The NFL will pass us by so quickly if we don't stay on top of things.

I don't exactly dislike Strief, but we have such a great history of young guys coming in out of nowhere and playing their you-know-whats off for this team on the offensive line....maybe one more year to groom someone underneath him. It's time for change. The line was terrible this year, and our line players and staff are supposed to be known as some of the best in the biz.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

I know that Strief graded out well in most of our games. What we need is another center. dlp has maxed out I'm afraid.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

DLP has actually graded out well, but we need someone who grades out excellent at center. Drew's best occurs when he can step up into the pocket and make a pass. DLP may not get beat, but he doesn't dominate his man enough to give Drew the 3 or 4 extra feet needed to step up into the pocket.

Drew thrives on dominant inside pocket protection.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

I hope we can have Parys Haralson back again.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Is there a dead money hit if we release Vilma?

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Considering he's coming off an injury and he's not exactly the youngest OLB out there, I think we can get him at a decent price. I think he's a solid player and would love to keep him, but even if we lose him there is a tonne of talented pass rushers in this years draft (Vic Beasley, Van Noy, Barr)

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

I would resign him but I'm most concerned that he won't stay healthy in 2014.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Christ, how many times do I have to post the stuff I am going to post...

Jenkins is among the worst safeties in the NFL. How some fans that watch every game miss the fact he never make plays in coverage and can't tackle is remarkable. Jenkins won't be cut, he is a free agent and shouldn't be back.

Jenkins is awful but don't take my word for it...

Here is PFF from 2011: "Jenkins graded 42nd overall, or totally middle of the road, with a negative grade. There's 64 starting safeties in the NFL"

Saints Nation: Pro Football Focus Scores for Saints Players in 2011 (Defense & Special Teams) | February | 2012 Articles


Here is PFF from 2012: Jenkins was ranked 88th out of 88 grade safeties. Thats right Jenkins was the worst safety in the league...

Saints Nation: Pro Football Focus Scores For Saints Players in 2012 (Defense & Special Teams) | February | 2013 Articles


Here is a list of all FA safeties available with their grades by PFF(2013):

Out of 46 FA safeties Jenkins is 41st with a -6.0 rating. Thats just the FAs... He is trash, Harper is more useful than Jenkins...FFS

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blo...gent-safeties/

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

I don't think Graham was ever meant to be a serious long term signing or the answer to our kicker problems going forward. I think he was brought in because we needed a change and there was really nobody else out there. He is old and doesn't have the leg for long field goals anymore.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Again, you're using 2012 grades. Not smart.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Seriously; using 2012 as a basis for defensive stats... :rolleyes:

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Yet you completely ignore the 2011 and 2013 grades that are in the post... You can choose to be ignorant I guess.

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

So 2011 counts when we had a different coordinator and a totally different scheme? ignorance :rolleyes:

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Same player being asked to do the same things.

Jenkins over the last 3 years has had 3 different DCs. Each year he has graded out as awful... under Rob Ryan he grades out as -6.0 which is among the NFLs worst safeties... care to go on?

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

But yet, he still starts... Apparently he's doing something right... :rolleyes:

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Just like Scott Shanle did all those years...

Just because someone starts doesn't mean they are good.

Do you think Jenkins is a good safety?

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Apparently he's the best FS, we got...

You know, you should be the coach with your vast football knowledge /sarcasm :rolleyes:

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

Pretty simple, without a pass rush, safeties often get burned. Watch more football.

Btw, I'm not a huge Jenkins fan either, but using 2012 stats for anything is shortsighted. Greer and Hawthorne graded horribly too. How'd they work out this year?

Re: A look at Saints' 2014 roster decisions
 

I am being inclusive to use as much statistical information as possible.

How was our pass rush this year danno?

And how did Jenkins do?

Oh, yet again he was among the worst safeties.... watch more football, or in your case read more carefully.