New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com

We need to many changes to happen in one season.
So who can be the building blocks for the future of the team?

2016 is the first year that the Saints can really make a big push by dumping the big contracts of ageing and under-performing players

QB
By the time the 2016 season starts Drew Brees will be 37,38 by the time the playoffs starts. Only two men have won the Superbowl over 37 and tha'ts John Elway and Johnny Unitas. Brees could lead the Saints at this age and a similar stye but would need a strong run game to supplement him. Elway was throwing for around 3500 yards and 22-25 TDs over the teams two superbowl runs. The team was carried on the shoulders of Terrell Davis running 3750 yards in 31 regular season games.

RB
Can the team afford to keep Ingram?
Ingram will want to be paid as a first team RB and i dont see the Saints sticking with a work horse RB when Thomas and Robinson are both fit again.

Looking at it long term it may be in the best interests to let Ingram go if the bidding starts to escalate when he hits FA. Ingram has played hard this year but has yet again missed games this year. This time with a broken hand,seasons before,5 in 2013,6 in 2011 with various issues like turf toe.
While he doesn't have a lot of miles on him at the pro level his college career will have taken its toll with over 600 rushes and receptions.
Salary cuts are needed somewhere and Ingram could end up a casualty.

Khiry Robinson will need a new deal for the 2016 season.
If Ingram leaves this summer it may be wise to get that deal done sooner rather than later. He needs to keep a better hold of the ball as he has two lost fumbles in his 118 rushes.

Pierre Thomas has been ever reliable and the most verstaile of the Saints RBs and his contract runs through the 2016 season at good cap numbers(under $2.75ml both seasons).

After these three i would cut the rest.
Cadet has shown little as a rusher or receiver and is also not getting much yardage in the return game(not that anyone has since Sproles in 2011).

Long term
Robinson and Thomas

WR
I hate to say it but injuries look to be really catching up with Colston.
For the majority of his Saints career he has been reliable with good hands and was a lock for 1000 yards in a season. Over the past two years he seems to have really slowed down and worse this season he has dropped a few passes that in years gone by you would have been shocked to see.
His contract is way over his production,mostly because the front office has been back loading deals for a number of years to keep the bulk of the team together. I wouldn't be shocked to see him cut at the end of the 2014 season as it would save $4.3ml against the cap but i expect to see him in a Saints uniform until the end of the 2015 season as i do not see the Saints paying him $5ml to play elsewhere. A cut prior to the 2016 season means paying him $2.7ml in dead money but that saves nearly $8ml.

Outside of Cooks and Kenny Stills there is little else on the roster the team needs to think about keeping for the long term.

Long Term
Stills and Cooks

Offensive Line
This should be a strong point with multi time probowlers in the line up but neither Grubbs or Evans are playing at the level they are being paid. Goodwin was a necessary pick up but he is struggling to stay healthy.

Terron Armstead has the potential to hold the LT slot for years to come and Tim Lelito has showed some decent progress as a Centre more than Guard.

Jahri Evans has been a great player for the Saints but nearly $20ml of cap space on two guards is leaving the team depleted in other areas.
If the front office decided to make a change from Evans it would save $6ml in cap space next year,but the dead money would $5ml. But the same change in 2016 would save $8.7ml with only $1.5ml in dead money.
The same costing for Grubbs be a saving of $3.6ml next year but a dead money of $6ml then in 2016 $7.3ml saving for $3ml dead money.
The cost of cutting either and trying to find a replacement will likely see both stay in New Orleans next year,though if the level of performance does not improve there is a chance that either or both could be cut in 2016 to bring in younger blood on a ageing offensive line.

A change at RT could be made but Streif is not a expensive player and could esaily fill the role of back up at his cost.

Long Term
Armstead and Lelito

TE
Jimmy Graham and Josh Hill are a great one two at TE and Ben Watson has been a top pro but coming towards the end of his career.

Long Term
Graham and Hill

Will go over the defense later

Thoughts?

Long term
QB
Brees

RB
Robinson
Thomas

WR
Stills
Cooks

TE
Graham
Hill

O-Line
Armstead
Lelito