The Big 2014 Changes thread (Non Draft)

[Jack Vegas]

QB-Restructure Brees, promote Griffin to #2, say goodbye to McCown

RB-I agree with letting Sproles go. I would also let Ingram go, nothing against him or his performance but his contract is too much for a relatively one-dimensional back. We should be able to get good value for both guys in trades. I would keep Thomas, Robinson and draft Jeremy Hill or somebody like him (and I'm no LSU fan but that guy is a freaking stud). Cadet can go as well, he's been a waste of a roster spot.

FB-keep Collins

WR-Let Moore go, love the guy, he costs too much and Stills is the same player but younger and cheaper. Meachem is fairly dependable, a good blocker and cheap. Keep Colston/Stills/Meachem/Toon/Morgan. If Joe Morgan can still play he's in the mix for a big role. I also think we might see Tanner making moves, he could contribute as a slot guy and would not be any kind of downgrade from Moore this year. Colston's knees are the big question mark to me here. If he is 100% we are good to go here.

TE-Sign Graham long-term, keep Watson he's good. Hill should have a bigger role, he looks like a good young player.

OL-Restructure Grubbs, he is not worth 1/3 of his salary. Draft a center to compete with DLP. Otherwise keep everything about the same in the starting 5. Brown may not have cut it as a starter but he is good cheap depth and can play either tackle. Harris and Lelito also look like good depth guys. Our OL struggles this year had nothing to do with lack of talent, they had to do with new coach/new scheme and facing an inordinate amount of really good defensive lines. Don't overreact. We have good guys on the OL.

DL-Looks good, keep the same guys, maybe draft a pass rush type another in the Foster/Walker mold and let T. Johnson go.

LB-Hawthorne/Lofton are great run defenders but lack a little bit of speed sideline to sideline. But I'm not sure this is a position you want to get too gung-ho about "upgrading" because you might end up regretting it. Humber and Reddick need more playing time IMO. Galette/Haralson/Butler should be a fine rotation on the outside.

CB-Let Greer go, love him but see Lance Moore situation. Lewis/Robinson/White is a fine starting point, draft a couple young guys and see who turns out. We could use a true nickel/slot guy in the Greer mold, somebody who is more agile and quick to cover those little squirt receivers that give us trouble sometimes.

S-Keep either Harper or Jenkins, let the other go. Bush and Vaccaro are your starters. We could also see White in the mix at safety but that would necessitate finding another corner.

ST-Keep Graham for another year, he's fine. Need changes on STs in general when it comes to kicking and returns. Coverage teams are pretty much OK, could use a little more youth/speed though.


In summary basically I don't think we need much change. We need Brees to get his act together and be in top form next year. We need some young guys to continue developing and take on bigger roles. And we need to shake some thing up on offense, that means work on schemes and playbooks, not necessarily blowing it up personnel wise.

Money-wise, I looked at the numbers a few weeks back and we're in OK shape with the Smith cut and Brees restructure. A few more moves (Greer, Moore, Sproles, restructuring of a couple more big deals) gives us plenty of wiggle room to re-sign Graham and others and maybe even look at some outside free agents. Not worried about cap room, it's not even an issue.