Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency
 

The New Orleans Saints didn't go into the first days of NFL free agency planning to target only one player. Nor did they focus solely on a tight end.

But after finding few options in the guard market and watching veteran tight end Ben Watson leave for the Baltimore Ravens, coach Sean Payton said the Saints narrowed their sights on Coby Fleener.

"If you would have said before free agency that you might sign a free agent tight end, I would have thought, "nah," Payton said Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings in Boca Raton, Fla. "But with where he was at and where we were at, there was really a good fit."

http://image.nola.com/home/nola-medi...141-mmmain.jpg

The Saints signed Fleener to a five-year, $36 million deal, although he will count only $2.4 million against the salary cap in 2016.

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Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency
 

I like the fact that we don't sign a guard just to sign one. I rather see us get one or two in the draft.

Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency
 

I agree. We didn't see anything we liked so we plugged other holes.

Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency
 

So, basically we think what we have is better than what we could have gotten in free agency?

And also that there are several OG's in the draft we like a lot!

Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency
 

We signed our starters/spot starters from last year. We also have Peat or Strief which could move to the inside when they lose the RT position. I would not be upset with Alexander in the 3rd also. I'm sure they will be fine. SP wants to keep Brees upright as bad as we do.

Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency
 

We are rolling the dice on a TE that has not lived up to expectation for the most part, for 5 years at the above market price of $36 million.

What was wrong with resigning?

Ben Watson (Signed 2-year, $7M deal with BAL)

I would have preferred rolling the dice on a proven up and coming young OG for less or equally value

Brandon Brooks (Signed 5-year, $40M deal with PHI)
Jeff Allen (Signed 4-year, $28M deal with HOU)

or just get the best thing out there that can jump out to RT or LT if needed in a pinch. We all know RT is still up in the air also.

Kelechi Osemele (Signed 5-year, $58.5M deal with OAK)

and called it a season. Protect that 20 million dollar man

Oh well with the long list of over paid FA failures in recent years. The odds should be in our favor to get at least one year right. Heck a blind man can hit a target at least once if he keeps shooting long enough,

We actually may have a year were they all play up to their pay checks. Now wouldn't that be a shocker.

On the bright side if this turns out like all the other at least the contract is drawn up in such a way that this could be a two year audition.

Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency
 

we will be drafting one

Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency
 

I do not see why but

I have a soft spot for
Rd 3/4 Nick Vannett Ohio State

Curiosity killed the cat?
Rd 5/6 Temarrick Hemingway South Carolina State

Injury payday?
Rd 7 Jake McGee Florida

Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency
 

I think Ben Grubbs left a bad taste.

Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency
 

I wouldn't be surprised to see us double dip at guard.......or DT either.