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Lautinaitis and Harper are a different case. The defense last year was historically bad. And very undisciplined. So both a talent upgrade and a veteran presence were warranted.

BTW there's no guarantee that Harper is going to make the final 53. He suffers the same problem as a veteran receiver would have, which is that there is more talent in front of him and that he's not going to play special teams. Watch for him to be cut before the start of the season and resigned when the contract is no longer guaranteed.

Cooks and Snead are the real deal. So why do they need a mentor? They and Coleman spent the last year or two in the WR meeting rooms with Colston. These guys have been playing with Brees for full campaigns. Collectively they accounted for nearly half the production of the #1 passing offense last year. So what exactly is a "veteran WR mentor" going to bring to the table that they have no already been exposed to?

Seems like with 31 teams trailing the Saints in passing offense that one of those "good teams" would have made that move already. Yet Boldin sits unsigned. Kinda makes you wonder.

With Colston retiring, the youth movement at receiver is complete. There is no reason that Cooks, Snead, Thomas, and Coleman should not be the core receiver group. And that 5th slot needs to go to a UDFA that can also play special teams.

There's no room for "veteran mentors". That's why Boldin will likely not be signed. It's the same reason that Harper will not be on the team when they line up against the Raiders.

SFIAH

K Major

Valid argument on Boldin however we shall see.

As for Harper, often times it's about on field leadership. Something we simply didn't have in 2015 (omitting Brees). I'll be the first to admit that I was never a fan of RH, however he has staying power. When 9/11 (Oakland) comes, expect RH to be on the field. Maybe not on the field every down but possibly in some sort of 3 safety look (possibly a LB comes off the field) @ the line of scrimmage.

I think we have other players in place to cover his weaknesses. I think the signing was not intended for RH to be a game changer but for added DEPTH & to implement Dennis Allen's defense.

I'm sure RH understands he isn't coming back to start.

“Winning is a habit, but losing is too.” Russell Wilson

saintsfan1976

Cooks is already a star in the making
Snead has the potential to be Lance Moore 2.0
Thomas has the skill set

I'm not concerned with those three. It's the lack of proven depth that scares me.

I hope Boldin was not just a rumor because we would be much better with his presence however involved he is