We can get back to competing quickly. But, it will take until 2026-2027 to full heal our salary cap if we go all in to rebuild, longer if we go slower. 2025 we will have to do restructures to afford the cap hits the to get rid of the dead weight. Much of that will hit as dead cap in 2025 but big hits from the two designated post-june-1 cuts, i would propose Carr and Ram, will hit in 2026. But then again our 2026 cap situation will look no worse, it will just be dead cap hits for Carr and Ram instead of their massive salaries, so it will be a minor issue. Then in 2027 we could have a fairly clean cap.

We could contend in 2025 and 2026 with the right draft picks and maybe a few value free agents. But sometimes a team that is almost all the way there needs big cap money to bring in the next Tom Brady, Jalen Ramsey, or Trent Williams to become the top dog. We certainly wont have the money to do that until 2026 or later, ideally 2027 or later.

I think the smart more is to cut the dead weight and aging injured players, try to build a young core, cleanup our cap, and try to find a young QB who clearly has what it takes. Then when that QB is in his window to win and we clearly need a little more boost, then spend the money to get a big free agent and take a shot. Don't spend the big money just to try to get the wildcard, get the wildcard through the draft, hopefully the division through the draft, and then spend for the ring.

I never bought in to that "we're gonna need 3 or 4 years to rebuild"

With free-agency, the draft and undrafted free-agents, a team can be rebuilt in one season.

From my view shoring up the trenches solves 80% of our problems roster wise. Thats the roux we need for that excellent pot of gumbo. Throw in some spicy free-agents and a skill stud or two and we're back on top, roster wise.

This won't be a easy fix.

1 - need to start hitting home runs in the draft
2 - get that cap in order
3 - over paying OLDER players needs to stop
4 - cutting AK saves roughly 17M. Ramz 6M, Cam J 3M etc.
5 - continue to rebuild in those trenches on BOTH sides.

Just about everyone needs to be a candidate for a possible trade.

That's a tall task for any new Head coach to over come. I'd start looking at someone from Dan Campbell's coaching (Johnson, Glenn).

Saints need a real plan, not a quick fix.

Quit drafting these fringe school project players and get more proven SEC players!

The one that haunts me is the 2nd round Foskey pick. Could've had safety Brian Branch. I was watching the DET@MIN game yesterday and he's outstanding. Reminds me a little of our Sammy Knight from back in the day.