jeanpierre

It would be nice to have a veteran presence at guard, but I doubt Dallas would want to see him go to New Orleans...

...then there's the other part, what would we have to give?

K Major

Kind of ironic hometown stud La'el Collins made Leary (also from Baton Rouge) expendable ... quickly.

He struggled a bit in pass protection though.

jeanpierre

The Vincent Brown signing is a pretty impressive talent, but despite his age of 27 years, he has less game experience than Brandin Cooks, our former "elder" statesman of the WR corps...

jeanpierre

New Orleans Saints

Grade: C

Extended: LT Terron Armstead, TE Michael Hoomanawanui, CB Kyle Wilson

Re-signed: FB Austin Johnson, OL Senio Kelemete, K Kai Forbath, RB Travaris Cadet, QB Luke McCown, S Jamarca Sanford, TE Josh Hill, RB Tim Hightower, G Tim Lelito

Notable veteran additions: TE Coby Fleener, WR Vincent Brown, K Connor Barth, LB Nathan Stupar, LB James Laurinaitis, LB Craig Robertson, DT Nick Fairley

Notable veteran subtractions: RG Jahri Evans, LB David Hawthorne, LB Ramon Humber, WR Seantavius Jones, WR Marques Colston, CB Brandon Browner, S Vinnie Sunseri, TE Benjamin Watson, S Rafael Bush, RB Khiry Robinson

Draft picks: 1-Sheldon Rankins (DT), 2-Michael Thomas (WR), 2-Vonn Bell (S), 4-David Onyemata (DT), 7-Daniel Lasco (RB)

Analysis: Over the past two seasons, the Saints have ranked eighth in points scored and 32nd in points allowed, which is why it was a little confounding to see them use a big chunk of their free-agent resources for receiving tight end Coby Fleener.

"They are still not fast enough or talented enough at corner, and there are still question marks concerning the depth of their defensive line and the overall speed of the defense," Dominik said.

Riddick said he could not endorse adding a declining James Laurinaitis and an underachieving Nick Fairley to the Saints defense, although it's interesting that both played under coordinator Gregg Williams in St. Louis. The Saints' current defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, was the secondary coach in New Orleans under Williams when the team won a championship. Can the 2016 Saints get back to playing defense as effectively as they did when Williams was the coordinator?

"The problem has been the efficiency of the defense and mistakes and mental errors and players not knowing what to do and who to cover and things of that nature," Polian said. "If they can get that cleaned up, then they have a chance to be pretty good. I see enough talent defensively. I like Vonn Bell in the second round. He will step in and play pretty well. Sheldon Rankins was a really good draft choice. Talent is not the big issue. The issue is scheme, structure and mental errors."

Riddick called Rankins the best defensive tackle in the draft, but he did not think the Saints emerged from this offseason with enough playmakers on the defensive side.

"Other than Cameron Jordan, who do they have?" Riddick asked. "You hope Sheldon Rankins will be productive and Stephone Anthony can be a stud, but I don't see where the defense has gotten markedly better."

Source: ESPN: 2016 offseason grades for all 32 NFL teams

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

ChrisXVI

I'm all for not looking at our team through rose colored glasses but that article completely overlooks getting Keenan Lewis, PJ Williams and Davis Tull back from injury. I will never take Mark Dominik seriously because he was an absolutely abysmal GM in Tampa.

jeanpierre

If Saints look for veteran free agents this summer, who might be on wish list? | NOLA.com

Pretty thin...may not have liked our draft, but I think the 90 with our UDRFA class gives us a great mould to start from and build a quality, deep team...

jeanpierre

Top 15 NFL free agents still available - Greg Hardy, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Donte Whitner

No. 8 would interest me...

WhoDatFan26

Leon Hall would be a good pickup for the Slot/Safety if the other pieces bomb. I'd pass on the rest.

jeanpierre

I'd like a proven veteran wide receiver like Hartline who could counsel, advise the younger wide receivers, especially in games where it gets chippy with the d-backs and a wiser player can be the difference in success and collapse...

jeanpierre

Former Philadelphia Eagles DB Walter Thurmond retiring at 28

Would like to have brought him in for a peek...provided we didn't have to hear another rendition of Sleepless for Seattle...