Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency

Attached Thumbnails · 03-23-2016, 06:51 PM

The New Orleans Saints didn't go into the first days of NFL free agency planning to target only one player. Nor did they focus solely on a tight end.

But after finding few options in the guard market and watching veteran tight end Ben Watson leave for the Baltimore Ravens, coach Sean Payton said the Saints narrowed their sights on Coby Fleener.

"If you would have said before free agency that you might sign a free agent tight end, I would have thought, "nah," Payton said Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings in Boca Raton, Fla. "But with where he was at and where we were at, there was really a good fit."

The Saints signed Fleener to a five-year, $36 million deal, although he will count only $2.4 million against the salary cap in 2016.

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Crusader · 03-23-2016, 06:58 PM

I like the fact that we don't sign a guard just to sign one. I rather see us get one or two in the draft.

rezburna · 03-23-2016, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by Crusader

I like the fact that we don't sign a guard just to sign one. I rather see us get one or two in the draft.

I agree. We didn't see anything we liked so we plugged other holes.

Danno · 03-23-2016, 07:56 PM

So, basically we think what we have is better than what we could have gotten in free agency?

And also that there are several OG's in the draft we like a lot!

voodooido · 03-23-2016, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

So, basically we think what we have is better than what we could have gotten in free agency?

And also that there are several OG's in the draft we like a lot!

We signed our starters/spot starters from last year. We also have Peat or Strief which could move to the inside when they lose the RT position. I would not be upset with Alexander in the 3rd also. I'm sure they will be fine. SP wants to keep Brees upright as bad as we do.

hagan714 · 03-24-2016, 06:13 AM

We are rolling the dice on a TE that has not lived up to expectation for the most part, for 5 years at the above market price of $36 million.

What was wrong with resigning?

Ben Watson (Signed 2-year, $7M deal with BAL)

I would have preferred rolling the dice on a proven up and coming young OG for less or equally value

Brandon Brooks (Signed 5-year, $40M deal with PHI)
Jeff Allen (Signed 4-year, $28M deal with HOU)

or just get the best thing out there that can jump out to RT or LT if needed in a pinch. We all know RT is still up in the air also.

Kelechi Osemele (Signed 5-year, $58.5M deal with OAK)

and called it a season. Protect that 20 million dollar man

Oh well with the long list of over paid FA failures in recent years. The odds should be in our favor to get at least one year right. Heck a blind man can hit a target at least once if he keeps shooting long enough,

We actually may have a year were they all play up to their pay checks. Now wouldn't that be a shocker.

On the bright side if this turns out like all the other at least the contract is drawn up in such a way that this could be a two year audition.

spkb25 · 03-24-2016, 06:21 AM

we will be drafting one

hagan714 · 03-24-2016, 06:59 AM

I do not see why but

I have a soft spot for
Rd 3/4 Nick Vannett Ohio State

Curiosity killed the cat?
Rd 5/6 Temarrick Hemingway South Carolina State

Injury payday?
Rd 7 Jake McGee Florida

rezburna · 03-24-2016, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by hagan714

We are rolling the dice on a TE that has not lived up to expectation for the most part, for 5 years at the above market price of $36 million.

What was wrong with resigning?

Ben Watson (Signed 2-year, $7M deal with BAL)

I would have preferred rolling the dice on a proven up and coming young OG for less or equally value

Brandon Brooks (Signed 5-year, $40M deal with PHI)
Jeff Allen (Signed 4-year, $28M deal with HOU)

or just get the best thing out there that can jump out to RT or LT if needed in a pinch. We all know RT is still up in the air also.

Kelechi Osemele (Signed 5-year, $58.5M deal with OAK)

and called it a season. Protect that 20 million dollar man

Oh well with the long list of over paid FA failures in recent years. The odds should be in our favor to get at least one year right. Heck a blind man can hit a target at least once if he keeps shooting long enough,

We actually may have a year were they all play up to their pay checks. Now wouldn't that be a shocker.

On the bright side if this turns out like all the other at least the contract is drawn up in such a way that this could be a two year audition.

I think Ben Grubbs left a bad taste.

Rugby Saint II · 03-27-2016, 01:10 PM

I wouldn't be surprised to see us double dip at guard.......or DT either.

03-23-2016, 06:51 PM	#1
Threaded by SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,125 Blog Entries: 29 Rating: (0 votes - average) The New Orleans Saints didn't go into the first days of NFL free agency planning to target only one player. Nor did they focus solely on a tight end. But after finding few options in the guard market and watching veteran tight end Ben Watson leave for the Baltimore Ravens, coach Sean Payton said the Saints narrowed their sights on Coby Fleener. "If you would have said before free agency that you might sign a free agent tight end, I would have thought, "nah," Payton said Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings in Boca Raton, Fla. "But with where he was at and where we were at, there was really a good fit." The Saints signed Fleener to a five-year, $36 million deal, although he will count only $2.4 million against the salary cap in 2016. read more Attached Thumbnails
Views: 1647

03-23-2016, 06:58 PM	#2
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,025	Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency I like the fact that we don't sign a guard just to sign one. I rather see us get one or two in the draft. mleg1972 and halloween 65 like this.

03-23-2016, 07:05 PM	#3
rezburna 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kenner, LA Posts: 7,903	Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency Originally Posted by Crusader I like the fact that we don't sign a guard just to sign one. I rather see us get one or two in the draft. I agree. We didn't see anything we liked so we plugged other holes.

03-23-2016, 07:56 PM	#4
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency So, basically we think what we have is better than what we could have gotten in free agency? And also that there are several OG's in the draft we like a lot!

03-23-2016, 10:21 PM	#5
voodooido 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2,766	Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency Originally Posted by Danno So, basically we think what we have is better than what we could have gotten in free agency? And also that there are several OG's in the draft we like a lot! We signed our starters/spot starters from last year. We also have Peat or Strief which could move to the inside when they lose the RT position. I would not be upset with Alexander in the 3rd also. I'm sure they will be fine. SP wants to keep Brees upright as bad as we do.
voodooido 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2,766

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03-24-2016, 06:13 AM	#6
hagan714 LB Mentallity Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15,870 Blog Entries: 68	Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency We are rolling the dice on a TE that has not lived up to expectation for the most part, for 5 years at the above market price of $36 million. What was wrong with resigning? Ben Watson (Signed 2-year, $7M deal with BAL) I would have preferred rolling the dice on a proven up and coming young OG for less or equally value Brandon Brooks (Signed 5-year, $40M deal with PHI) Jeff Allen (Signed 4-year, $28M deal with HOU) or just get the best thing out there that can jump out to RT or LT if needed in a pinch. We all know RT is still up in the air also. Kelechi Osemele (Signed 5-year, $58.5M deal with OAK) and called it a season. Protect that 20 million dollar man Oh well with the long list of over paid FA failures in recent years. The odds should be in our favor to get at least one year right. Heck a blind man can hit a target at least once if he keeps shooting long enough, We actually may have a year were they all play up to their pay checks. Now wouldn't that be a shocker. On the bright side if this turns out like all the other at least the contract is drawn up in such a way that this could be a two year audition. brees84 likes this.
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03-24-2016, 06:21 AM	#7
spkb25 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 13,097	Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency we will be drafting one

03-24-2016, 06:59 AM	#8
hagan714 LB Mentallity Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15,870 Blog Entries: 68	Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency I do not see why but I have a soft spot for Rd 3/4 Nick Vannett Ohio State Curiosity killed the cat? Rd 5/6 Temarrick Hemingway South Carolina State Injury payday? Rd 7 Jake McGee Florida

03-24-2016, 08:55 AM	#9
rezburna 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kenner, LA Posts: 7,903	Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency Originally Posted by hagan714 We are rolling the dice on a TE that has not lived up to expectation for the most part, for 5 years at the above market price of $36 million. What was wrong with resigning? Ben Watson (Signed 2-year, $7M deal with BAL) I would have preferred rolling the dice on a proven up and coming young OG for less or equally value Brandon Brooks (Signed 5-year, $40M deal with PHI) Jeff Allen (Signed 4-year, $28M deal with HOU) or just get the best thing out there that can jump out to RT or LT if needed in a pinch. We all know RT is still up in the air also. Kelechi Osemele (Signed 5-year, $58.5M deal with OAK) and called it a season. Protect that 20 million dollar man Oh well with the long list of over paid FA failures in recent years. The odds should be in our favor to get at least one year right. Heck a blind man can hit a target at least once if he keeps shooting long enough, We actually may have a year were they all play up to their pay checks. Now wouldn't that be a shocker. On the bright side if this turns out like all the other at least the contract is drawn up in such a way that this could be a two year audition. I think Ben Grubbs left a bad taste.

03-27-2016, 01:10 PM	#10
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,052	Re: Saints looked at guards, opted for tight end in NFL free agency I wouldn't be surprised to see us double dip at guard.......or DT either.