Still scratching my head how they kept Davenport and let Hendrickson walk...

It all came down to $$$$$ & Cents:

Cap-strapped Saints might have to let Trey Hendrickson walk in free agency

The Saints signed 3rd round draft choice Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $3.17 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $706,288.


Trey Hendrickson signed a 4 year, $60,000,000 contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, including a $10,000,000 signing bonus, $16,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $15,000,000.

Hmm.

I'd bring MD back for 2023. His sack totals aren't higher, but among other things, his pressure rate is on par with 2021.

The coverage and safety play were below average compared to a year ago. The former has gotten better in recent weeks, but losing Latt has hurt a lot, and I believe that's why the number of defensive line sacks has decreased.

It would be less expensive (see post #5) to bring him back for a year.

They had the cap space available to make that kind of deal, but probably weren't sold on his future being as strong as it ended up being.

We let Hendrickson go in the offseason between 2020 and 2021 seasons. This was the same offseason where at WR we were comfortable with Michael Thomas as our only talented WR despite his being injured all season, delaying surgery, and our recent experience with how one injury affected Cameron Meredith's promising WR career. And behind Thomas nothing. And at starting TE Adam Trautman a totally unproven raw project pick.

So I guess we 'had cap space' to sign Hendrickson but 'weren't sold' however its important to remember that we had so little cap space that we decided not to address obvious needs that ruined our teams season because we were so close to being maxed out on the cap that had we signed Hendrickson, or more practically a WR or TE making that kind of money, we would have been in an even more historical level of cap hell.

I think its more practical so say that we could have signed Hendrickson, or we could have brought in a great WR or TE, but Mickey Loomis had us so maxxed out on the cap that had we done that, and had Jameis Winston thrown for 6000 yards in 2021 or Taysom Hill been the first QB to rush for 2000 yards, and we won the Superbowl, we would not have had any way to get under the salary cap enough to apply the franchise tag to prevent letting them walk. So even if Hendrickson had been a fit, it would not have mattered, unless we let Ramczyk or Lattimore etc walk in his place, we were hosed.

A valid argument for not over-mortgaging the cap. Also an argument to NOT spend two number ones for a number one pick on moving up. This move rarely works out, despite the obvious exceptions . It could be argued had we not used two 1s to reach down to get Davenport who probably would've been available in later rounds, our cap would've been in better situation to afford Hendrickson sans casualties. As a franchise, you want exactly the kind of players like Hendrickson turned out to be from the draft position he was gotten

Trey Hendrickson again showing up in the playoffs.

Davenport should watch some of Trey's tape.

Trey Hendrickson again showing up in the playoffs.

Davenport should watch some of Trey's tape.

Hey look, Vonn Bell too!