WhoDat!656

The New Orleans Saints are facing an increasingly complicated off season when it comes to resigning big name talent on the roster — Drew Brees, Carl Nicks, Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, and Tracy Porter — are all slated to become free agents.

Something has to give, and someone is likely to become the odd man out.

New Orleans is probably hoping to get Brees’ contract in place before the leagues deadline to franchise tag a player comes on March 5th.

Should they complete that deal it would allow them place the tag on either Nicks or Colston to keep them with the team for the foreseeable future.

Currently the general consensus is that Nicks will be the odd man out, even though he is the best guard in the league, as he will want to be paid like the best guards in the league — and that’s a price tag the Saints can’t handle.

Just how the attempted re-signing of these three players pans out will be the most compelling story line for the Saints leading up to the 2012 season.

Corner Tracy Porter is also another on the bubble players, and his future with the team likely hinges on how the Saints view the future of young corner Patrick Robinson — the teams first round pick in the 2010 draft.

Robinson started seven games for the Saints in 2011, and it was apparent that former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was beginning to trust Robinson more than Porter in the starting lineup.

He responded with 47 tackles, 15 pass deflections, and 4 interceptions.

Porter meanwhile started 11 games making 52 tackles, 10 pass deflections, and one interceptions.

As it became clear to all last year, Robinson has likely already leapfrogged Porter on the depth chart.

New defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is known to prefer the taller and stronger corner body type.

At first glance it would appear that Robinson would bet the favored starter in his defense, and he would likely thrive under new secondary coach Ken Flajole.

Robinson is much more physical than Porter, better in pass coverage, and a much better tackler.

In fact Porter has been criticized of late for poor tackling, often coming in with his head down which results in far too many broken tackles and extra yards for the opposition.

The Saints would most likely want to keep Porter around — he is good, not great — but as the league continues to move towards an ever increasing reliance on the pass good corners come at premium for all 32 teams in the NFL.

But Porter will likely want starter money, and the Saints are going to want to pay him that way.

With Robinson penciled in as the starter, Porter will have to accept less money and the “nickel” role in Spagnuolo’s defense.

When free agency begins on March 13th, and assuming Porter has no deal to return to the Saints, then it’s likely some corner starved team will be willing to give him starter money to make the move out of New Orleans.

If that happens the Saints will deploy Robinson and Greer as the teams starting duo next season, and a corner with their second round pick (59th overall) would be the most likely selection for the team in the upcoming draft.

Porter is not the only Saint who’s future is clouded by a teammate.

Wide receiver Devery Henderson will count for nearly $4 million dollars towards the salary cap next season if he remains on the roster.

He is a prime candidate for release, but his future will depend on what the team is able to do with impending free agent Robert Meachem.

If the Saints can’t re-sign Meachem then Henderson is safe, however if they do get him back under contract then Henderson will have to re-structure his 2012 salary or be shown the door.

whodatdish.com/2012/02/09/patrick-robinson-heavily-linked-to-tracy-porters-future-with-saints/

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

B_Dub_Saint

I am really hoping that we franchise Nicks and sign Colston for another 5 years. The dude is our #1 receiver and is a freakin stud. I know Nicks is just as valuable but I believe Colston over Nicks at this point. As we all know, Brees is the first thing that needs to get done and the front office needs to hurry the hell up. I dont know whats taking so long. He needs to feel that we want him to stay around for a long time and I hope that these on going discussions are not pissing off Brees. Just my OP.

SUPER BOWL CHAMPS 2009 :)

WhoDat!656

As much as I like Colston, of the 3, Brees, Nicks, Colston; MC is the most expendable.

The Saints could pick up a good veteran in FA; Donald Driver may become available if the Packers decide not to re-sign him.

"If I get an opportunity to come back and play, I will," Driver said last month. "If not, I'll go somewhere else and play and I'll see them down the road. The thing is, it's not up to me. The Packers have to make that decision."

The decision on whether to bring back Driver is partially based on finances. Driver is scheduled to make $2.6 million for 2012, plus a $2.2 million roster bonus due in March.

Report: Driver may take pay cut to stay in GB

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

CharityMike

Why the hell would we pick a CB with our first pick? Obviously this person is forgetting we have Johnny Patrick waiting in the wings.

Danno

Thats WhoDatDish. They're getting a lot better but it seems like every article just misses something like that.

But I think that when we pick, if a CB is the BPA, we'll pick him.

Like always we'll address holes in free-agency allowing us to pick BPA.

alleycat_126

Im not being mean, honestly. But there's no way in HELL that I would consider signing DD at this point in his career need an example. See Derrick Mason's 2011-2012.

ScottF

I agree, but tagging Nicks will cost us 10 mill this year, so still no bargain. At least if JJ or some other free spending owner goes after him, we get 2 number 1's. I can see Snyder doing that, but very few others.

halloween 65

How would we get 2 #1's? And if so when?

ScottF

I had to WIKI it yesterday--

Types of franchise tag

There are two types of franchise tag designations: the exclusive rights franchise tag, and non-exclusive rights franchise tag:

An "exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of a date in April of the current year in which the tag will apply, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. Exclusive franchise players cannot negotiate with other teams.

A "non-exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position in the previous year, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A non-exclusive franchise player may negotiate with other NFL teams, but if he signs an offer sheet from another team, the original team has a right to match the terms of that offer, or if it does not match the offer and thus loses the player, is entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation

FinSaint

Yeah, there is no way the Saints can trade Nicks for picks now when he's an UFA, not if he's tagged, and certainly not if he's given the contract he wants in order to stay.

It's either sign him to a new long-term contract, tag him to stay another year while the Saints can find somebody to replace him, or let him walk.