New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - NOLA.com Twenty thoughts on 20 New Orleans Saints players heading into OTAs

Seemingly endless months of roster shaping transitions to actual on-field preparation for the New Orleans Saints as the team opens up organized team activities Tuesday morning.

The Saints will hold four weeks of practices with three weeks of OTA sessions along with a mandatory three-day minicamp sandwich in between June 10-12 (all of which are closed to the public). Although "voluntary," attendance is never an issue for the Saints outside of a contract issue (Jimmy Graham) or school obligations (Brandin Cooks).

Position groups like cornerback, center, outside linebacker and wide receiver will be among the primary focus this offseason with some uncertainty surrounding each of those three spots. There's no doubt we'll focus in on these positions throughout the offseason from now until Week 1.

So let's take a look at some individual players leading into OTAs with 20 thoughts on 20 players:

1. Drew Brees: The 35-year-old quarterback probably won't be playing into his 40s despite his ambitious outlook. But he hasn't given me any reason to think he'll fall off in 2014. I'm anticipating a better season for Brees this year than in 2013. An improved offensive line and a new toy in Brandin Cooks will help.

2. Pierre Thomas: The gritty tailback is entering his eighth season, which is as many as Deuce McAllister played in New Orleans. He's been a staple to the team's success. This may be his final season, though, as his contract "extension" is more like a one-year deal similar to the one Roman Harper signed last offseason.

3. Mark Ingram: No one needs to tell Ingram just how important the 2014 season will be for the former first-round pick. No fifth-year option for 2015 for Ingram says it all. If Ingram falters in 2014, the Saints will likely move on. If Ingram thrives in 2015, what would Ingram's value be on a new contract? An interesting dilemma if that's the case.

4. Patrick Robinson: He's the longest-tenured Saints player in the secondary having played under Gregg Williams, Steve Spagnuolo and Rob Ryan. He's entering his final year of his rookie contract. He may have more to prove than anyone else in the secondary.

5. Marques Colston: He's watched veteran teammate after veteran teammate walk out the Saints' front door the last few years not by their choice. With cap numbers rising steeply across the board next season, this season may very well be Colston's last hurrah in New Orleans. Colston turns 31 next week and will cost $9.7 million against the 2015 salary cap.

Read more: Twenty thoughts on 20 New Orleans Saints players heading into OTAs | Larry Holder | NOLA.com