Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Week 14 Breaux had a 'severe sprain' of his shoulder...

Everyone watching the game saw how hard PJ Williams got kicked in the head...

Most mortals who get struck like that are never the same after a blow to the head...

And at this stage of Williams career, I thought the Saints and Williams made the smart move to sit out the year...

Everyone needs to relax, we definitely have two starting outside cornerbacks...

Both were struck with severe injuries and had rookie cornerbacks as reserves - a perfect storm working against us....

Trust what I'm saying, we'll be better next season for it...

And I bet you hear talking heads talking about how deep we are next season...

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Okay did anyone watch WYES (PBS) local talk show Inside New Orleans Sports hosted by Eric Asher with Sean Fazende? It was a good one...

They discussed Payton's tenure, the Red Wedding for the Special Teams and Defensive Assistance, and Personnel Moves; specifically Nick Fairley...

Fazende responded to an Asher inquiry about Fairley and that it'll cost at least 10 million/year and a couple of guaranteed years to keep Fairley...

Fazende said while Fairley has earned it, the Saints may be leery of guaranteeing that much, especially when an elite edge speed should be the priority...

There was lots of Batman and Robin analogy and that the front four play has a greater impact on the DB's than the DB's have on the front four...

Fazende explained comparably priced DL FAs with Fairley's stats and what they were earning and that the Fairley has set. matched that market...

And the question is "are the Saints willing to gamble long term with Fairley with other looming contract extensions on the horizon?"

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Saw a report somewhere that said the Ravens are going to let RT Ricky Wagner hit free agency. I don't know how willing he'd be to play guard but he needs to be high on our list right behind Kevin Zeitler.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Actually in my dream world we can sign both and Stief goes to back up for the rest of of career with the saints. Love to see him fill in as needed and for once in a long time give the saints and active rotation along the OL that does not make us all nervous.

We can sign both. Dumping 20 million into one side of the OL is not something I would buy into but two proven young guns like this I can make an exception for. Drew may get caught mumbling to himself in disbelief if the saints did declare he was the man and the final years of his playing time will be with saint and he will be protected to lead us to the promise land.

Rick Wagner RT Baltimore Ravens 26
RG Kevin Zeitler Cincinnati Bengals 26

Now this is an OL

Terron Armstead
Andrus Peat
Max Unger
Kevin Zeitler.
Ricky Wagner

Back up/mentor/coach
Zach Strief

draft a swing OG that has some OC ability to groom
Ethan Pocic C/OG/OT LSU 6056 309 5.18 Sr #77 Sr
Sean Harlow, OG./C/OT Oregon State 6041 310 5.17 #77 Sr

Let the rest fight the bubble

As for the defense stay the course. Even signing these Wagner and Zeitler would leave us enough cap to steal a couple more solid backups defense players again in 2017 that are ready to step out into the lime light and play. .
A.J. Klein MLB/OLB Carolina 25 is a top of my list.

S Erik Harris
LB Nate Stupar
LB Craig Robertson

LB James Laurinaitis Bust

DT Nick Fairley
This is one reason I would not let Nick Fairly hold us hostage. Besides a player like Johnathan Hankins NY Giants 25 who is better against the run might be better suited as a pairing with Sheldon Rankins. In a perfect world would have all three and have a great DT rotation to rival any team in the NFL.

But no way will the defense be ready to click in 2017. Baby steps is the best we can hope for. That an the football gods bless us with health. They did not get a chance to experience the much needed "gelling time" to function as a unit in 2016. This also is a reason I feel more comfortable with focusing on the offense in 2017. If the defense was even a bit more blessed to stay healthier than they were I might not go this route. But alas the football gods had different plans. maybe this is the reason why

May the football Gods bless you all
Now go forth and multiply in this this off season.
:)

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Agree on the O-line call. Even if we over-pay, it would be beneficial for several reasons.

It could add a few more years to Drew's career by improved pass protection

It could provide us more balance ran/pass wise, also adding years to Drew's career.

If we draft a young stud QB down the road, we'd have a fantastic supporting cast for him to grow quickly (see Dak Prescott)

Zig-Zag. While the league is obsessing on pass rushers, teams with the better O-lines have an advantage.

As long as we still address the few holes on our defense, I'd be fine with over-paying for a couple of stud O-linemen.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Funny how you bring up Fairley. This morning I was looking over mock drafts and one that kind od stuck out which I thought wasn't bad came from canal street cronicle. I'm thinking we should go younger at the NT position to go along with Davidson, Fairley when lined up at the nose was not effective at all. There are 2 players I'm still pondering on at the nose but trying to see which would do damage up front. I got to agree about adding another MLB and I'm also looking at the secondary on D. The draft goes deep on the secondary and DE's this year but another good NT is the key to it all.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Good call on the NT position. I feel like even if Fairley signs elsewhere we'll be ok at the 3 technique with Rankins and Onyemata (plus Cam Jordan sliding inside at times.) We have to get some depth at NT though. Maybe Ashaad Mabry from the practice squad? He flashed a few times last preseason.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Posibility with Mabry? But he has to do much more than flash, he's going to have to penetrate well and hold the point of attack, not an easy job to have and be consistant.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Been away for a while and not seen much football. Mostly due to the medication i was put on after being sick. Led to severe lethargy and a inability to really concentrate on anything.

Cant say i saw much of the second half of the year so my opinions may well be a bit off.


Seems like Dairley had a good year but my worry about paying him is the chance he adds weight and dips again. The two prove it deals with us and the Rams seemed to relight a fire but once paid will he drop off again?

Really need to shore the interior of the D line and the Oline in general from what i saw early. Not just to get the best out of Drews last few years but to give his eventual replacement something to work behind. Nothing is better for a young QB than a good line and a running game. I like Ingram but for me he isnt anything special. A good allround back but lacks the killer speed and power to be something special. As i say i like him and have backed him in the past but think its time to be looking to a replacement either in 17 or 18.

Id keep Snead for the rigjt money but not break the bank. He has filled in the Moore role fantastically but as Drew showed with Stills give him a mid tier WR and he will turn him into a 1000 yard WR.

As a great trainer said

“You got to get speed, demon speed. Speed’s what we need; we need greasy, fast speed.”

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Sorry to hear you were sick. Good quote from Rocky!!

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Those Ravens castoffs don't always work out well for us...

Grubbs was horrible...

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

I'm thinking that since Zeitler and Wagner were teammates at Wisconsin at least they'd have chemistry already... We'd just have to import a few pallets of cheese curds and New Glarus beer to keep them happy!

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

If we get Zeitler who from what I've read is ideal as a run mauling/pass blocking machine then I'd probably rather spend the additional money on another area of need while drafting Strief's replacement(again). Our O-line coach did a fine job last year and we need to give him more talent to develop and continue to improve continuity.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Always wondered why a team in the draft doesn't draft multiple players on the same sub-unit who've already demonstrated they can play well together.

Sub-units with pre-installed chemistry...O Line, DBs, QB/WRs/TE.

Should play better together than their individual draft grades...so, value picks, too.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Would anyone pay Jamie Collins the money he wants if he hits the open market

One of my favourite defensive players to watch. Him and Robertson would give the Linebackers some great sideline to sideline movement

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

AGE is the factor here.
28 - 29 is the usual point were players start showing wear and tear on the OL. We traded Ben at the rip old age of 31.

at 26 you still have a more than a couple of years left of prime play before the slide starts.

If all goes well both will leave with Drew and cap space will once again be there to chase other players and a ring or two to boot

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Because few, if any, college team has professional quality players in complementary positions, and if they do there are 31 other teams drafting, as well.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Jamie Collins was looking for a contract just around Von: 6-$114.5M. 19/yr

Luke Kuechly, gets $12 million and Collins thought that was not enough

15 mill/yr? So the Pats traded him. Thus is life inside the Pats organization.

That kind of money into one player will not help us enough.

If we are knocking on the gates of the super bowl yet again and he looked to be that one player to kick them open, then sure go for it. But he needs a supporting cast around him to make a steady impact game in and game out.

Collins is a key piece of the puzzle type of player. Not a corner stone on which to build. We need cornerstones for the defense.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

A.J. Bouye plays like a beast in this playoff game.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

You know what would be ironic? It is very likely Collins could have been our second round pick had we not gotten the Goodell BountyBeatdown...

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Didnt realise he was after 19ml
Thought it would be the 12ml or so

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

AJ looked really good yesterday vs the Pats.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

NFL Free Agents Tracker 2017 - WalterFootball.com

I always enjoy looking at WalterFootball's free agent rankings.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

I propose "The RFL" Regional Football League. Divide the college teams similar to Big 10, SEC, ACC ect. Used as a developmental league and allows players from the same team / region to remain together.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Didn't realize Eric Berry was a FA.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

I like Walters also. I get a lot of info. there then try to look up players that possibly fit our scheme. Draft picks mostly.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Really makes that Byrd contract and two picks for Bell really sting, doesn't it?

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Will he get tagged? Is this a one year wonder?

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

The best snap into place for Dennis Allen would have to be Chandler Jones, but signing him could be problematic...

How much will he cost?

Should he sign, it'll be for more than Cam Jordan, how with that sit?

And is he clean? He did have an alleged synthetic marijuana incident...

Don't really see any other edge defender unless we move back to a 3-4?

And we have a 3-4 edge defender returning from injured reserve in Kikaha...

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Don't forget that Kikaha excelled as a 4-3 DE at Washington before they converted to a 3-4 his senior year. And Payton had been saying he was looking forward to Kikaha's move to DE before his preseason injury.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

My selections for the...

Saints' Top Ten Free Agent Targets

1. RG Kevin Zeitler, 27

2. LG Andrew Norwell, 25

3. DE Chandler Jones, 27

4. CB A.J. Bouye, 26

5. CB Logan Ryan, 26

6. WR Willie Snead, 24

7. CB Sterling Moore, 26

8. DT Nick Fairley, 28

9. FB John Kuhn, 34

10. LB Kiko Alonso, 27

Disclaimer: No, don't expect to sign all from the list, but three or four of the top 6 would have me doing a Farmer Fran delight...

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Worry that Hau'oli Kikaha doesn't have the sand in his pants (bulk) to anchor the edge in a 4-3 front and that's why he was getting injured...

Guess we'll see what's happening...

I wouldn't be surprised if Kikaha and/or Anthony get moved this offseason...

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

C. Campbell
L. Ryan
K. Zeitler

My top 3 targets I think the Saints should grab.

Address DE and ILB in the draft.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

You have Guard at the top of your list. This means we can be friends.

:patos:

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Speaking of GUARDS - per Walter football report:

6. Andrew Norwell, G, Panthers. Age: 25
Carolina's offensive line was a mess this past season, but the lone bright spot throughout the entire year was Andrew Norwell. The 25-year-old was outstanding in both pass protection and run blocking, and given that he's so young, he could even be better in 2017 and 2018.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Outstanding? Solid works for me. What amazes me about him is how far he has come since college. Looking for a player with desire and drive to get better it would be hard to find any one that has worked harder. A huge plus in my book.

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

:lolup:

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Campbell doesn't want to leave 'Zona; he'd left before if he wanted to geaux...

Re: 2017 Free Agency thread anyone?
 

Tell you another positive for signing him - Carolina then wouldn't have 'em...