Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

(Mike Tripplet)

The New Orleans Saints have 13 players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on March 11, including four full-time starters. Here’s a breakdown on center Brian de la Puente:

De la Puente
Position: Starting center
Age: 28
Height: 6-3
Weight: 306

Scouting report: De la Puente could be in high demand this offseason as a proven starter who has played at a high level for the last three years. Like the rest of the Saints’ offensive line, he struggled at times during the first half of the 2013 season in both his run blocking and pass protection. But he finished very well during the second half of the year and in the playoffs -- returning to the consistent level we saw in 2011-12.

De la Puente isn’t a mauler up front, but he’s got a good combination of power and athleticism -- which has served him well in the Saints’ versatile offense that relies so much on pass protection and screen passes. And his experience as a signal-caller for such a sophisticated passing offense will only enhance his market value.

De la Puente certainly fit right in on a Saints offensive line filled with diamonds in the rough. He joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Cal in 2008, but he bounced around with San Francisco, Kansas City, Carolina and Seattle before landing on the Saints’ practice squad in 2010. He then earned the starting job over veteran Olin Kreutz early in the 2011 season.

Projection: This should sound like a broken record by now with the Saints’ free agents -- I think they’d love to have de la Puente back, but only if the price is right. And that might not work out for them.

I’m tempted to predict that de la Puente could earn a deal similar to the three-year, $10.9 million contract the San Francisco 49ers gave Jonathan Goodwin when they stole him away from New Orleans three years ago. But it’s possible a team will pay even more for such a proven commodity since quality centers are hard to find on the free-agent market. Most analysts rank de la Puente No. 2 in this year’s class behind Cleveland’s standout Alex Mack.

If the Saints do lose de la Puente, they could audition another undrafted free agent find in the role -- Tim Lelito, who showed promise as a backup guard last year. Or they might look to develop a future starter with an early draft pick. Or they could sign a more affordable veteran free agent in the short term -- maybe even Goodwin, who is now back on the market.
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Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

Draft a center if DLP is #2 the FA market is way to thin. We need a stud up front.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

I haven't seen a video of Brees standing on a desk saying "Sign DLP!". Interesting observation.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

If we go into next season with Lelito and Harris starting on our O Line then we're in trouble. I'm just not sure if I'd choose to resign de la Puente or Strief if I had to choose one or the other. I guess the cheaper one.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

If we want to keep Jimmy Graham that scenario may very well happen.

I think we'll sign at least one of them.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

I'd be shocked if neither one was here next season. I think we'd see a 2013 Failclowns type of collapse of our O-Line if we went with that much inexperience.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

We would still have Evens and Grubbs? Add a stud C. We have a Armstead protecting the blind side. That leaves Strief position which is questionable without a contract? Any FA avalible ?? Thats where Grubbs come from and has played well enough?

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

Strongly disagree.

The Saints philosophy has never been to spend big money on the line. The only o-line position the saints pay for are the guards. Strife and DLP are both goners; if we bring back Jimmy that's the price we pay (I don't think we should waste money on Jimmy either but that's for another post). Harris is more than prepared for the RT spot; he did well against NE and has been in the offense for 3 years. Lelito played the entire preseason at center and although he was awful as a guard he should have some experience at center.

We are going to have a cheap line this year, but cheap means young and athletic. I predict a better running game making the PA pass more of a threat which will make our offense look like 2011 all over again.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

Ok... Call me crazy but I just don't see starting next season with Lelito, Harris and a left tackle who has only played in a handful of games starting on our O-Line as a good thing.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

I would like to see De La Puente at 4 years for 10 million coming back to us.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

Gut some more cap and sign Alex Mack. He'll probably only cost us about 9 million per season.

Think Loomis can make it happen?

Hmmm, cutting Sproles and Moore frees up about 6, and few restructures here and there and BAM, we're set. :p

Back on planet earth...

Which would you rather have?
Alex Mack or Jimmy Graham?

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

Neither!! Not at that price. But with the money I saved would be used to put a jam up run game and add a few pieces to the D. I bet we could get some pretty good pieces with that money + the draft= bonus.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

We will waste money on Graham if that O line isn't taken care of.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

I would like to see the Saints use as much as they can to fix that O line. What ever we have left after that,use on the D and depth. I'd like to see a stud receiver, but maybe next year. I really don't see that being a priority this year.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

It all starts with FIVE guys up front. You can't protect Brees, you will get him killed. And then what.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

It would be hard to pass that up.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

yep this is a tough year.

#1 Drew must have a pocket above everything else

proceed with caution the saints can ill afford any more games on the OL

if we loss DLP IN fA they better be aggressive in the draft or have some solid FA plan in place.

#27 NO Saints pick Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas, 6-5, 310, 5.26

i can hear the hush in the draft tent on airline now

now

#54 Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State, 6-4, 300, 5.18

i can live with, i think

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

I'm sorry I cannot agree with this statement. Ben Grubbs was a Pro Bowl guard in the prime of his career when we gave him that contract. He's 29 so technically, he still is. We have had for years, one of the better lines in the league... not much as changed even with the constant changing of tackles. And while the Pro Bowl has taken it's lumps as far as credibility is concerned, he still is a Pro Bowler on a back loaded affordable contract. Quite frankly, considering inflation among salary for interior lineman in the league now, he contract is very fair. If we need the extra cap room, restructing his contract shouldn't be an issue either.

As good as a player that Alex Mack is, I just don't think it's smart money to shell out 8+ million dollars a year to a center.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

I like the depth at C in the draft. We could go into rd4 and get our starting center.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

In the rush to throw away Strief and DLP like they were yesterday's stale chicken nuggets people are missing the big picture. If we go into next season with two new starters on the o-line it's going to be a mess again and we'll be waiting half the season for them to finally gel as a unit (which took a good 10-11 weeks to happen this year).

Keep those 5 guys together. It can be done.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

Grubbs reputation may say he's a Pro Bowler and a 9 million dollar player. His performance however does not. He stunk out loud for 3/4ths of last year.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

I do not disagree but there is an omitted caveat. We were sh1tty run blocking in a season which we changed the way we run block from man to zone. Changing to a scheme that doesn't fit our personnel is exactly what happened to our defense in 2012.

So while it isn't preferred to swap 1/2 the line in one season, it isn't going to be as bad as you think.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

I can name a handful of players that struggled for parts of last season. What's your point? He's not really a Pro Bowler or has been multiple times? Because he has and still is. He's not worth 9 million dollars? Well he isn't. He's getting paid 6 million this year and his contract averages out to about 7 million throughout the life on the contract.

Did you know that Ben Grubbs was ranked 10th overall out of 81 guards graded this year by PFF? Jahari Evans was 18th. So if you're going to say Grubbs stunk for the majority of last season, Evans must have been garbage then.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

I would definatly keep the gaurds, my issue is C where DLP gets pushed into Brees lane, if we find a C that doesn't get pushed so deep in the pocket and is a stud in the run game thats 4 out of 5 linemen solved. RT should be adressed also because Strief might want to get paid and leave for the money. I really don't know if the depth behind Strief can do what he does but if not a cheaper FA might if Strief leaves for the money and if I were a betting man Kromer will want him in Chicago.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

dlp is constantly in Brees throwing lane. He can't step up and deliver the ball if the center has been pushed in Drew's face. We need a road grader.

Re: Free-agent spotlight: C Brian de la Puente
 

If DLP gets an offer for the money Triplett is predicting, we shouldn't even be in the conversation.