Can the Saints afford a free-agent splash?

Attached Thumbnails · 02-12-2017, 10:25 AM

The Saints are in decent shape with their salary cap for the first time in a few years. They enter this offseason without having to restructure or chop contracts to give themselves money to play with. New Orleans stands about $30 million under the projected cap, according to OverTheCap.com.

With Drew Brees at 38 years old and entering the final year of his contract, I would assume the Saints will attempt to be aggressive in landing some immediate impact players. The problem the Saints will face is the amount of teams with an eye-popping amount of cap space.

Nineteen teams carry more space into this year's spending spree than the Saints. Plus, 13 teams holding more than $40 million in space (Cleveland has more than $100 million in space).

The Saints will have the room to make a monster splash if they want to go that route. But New Orleans has a few holes it might yearn to fill. So going all in on one player would probably be a mistake. Spend smart, but spend often should be the Saints' mantra in about a month when free agency opens.

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44Champs · 02-12-2017, 10:35 AM

The Saints have splashed before - actually, more like belly flopped in their free agent spending. I dont mind if they spend every dime of their cap space, as long as it's not on injury-prone FA's that can't stay on the field.

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hagan714 · 02-12-2017, 10:56 AM

Offense is the only thing a couple of pieces here and/or there will make a force almost unstoppable with money left over.

we have to many holes to fill on defense and need to upgrade talent across the board

Danno · 02-12-2017, 11:45 AM

As long as we have Brees, we should spend every penny of our cap space trying to field a team to win it all.

I prefer several smaller splashes over 1 or 2 big splashes though.

Gimme the upper 2nd tier guys like Jabari Greer, Darren Shraper, Fujita, Shanle, Lewis, Breaux, McCray, Hargrove, Goodwin, Dave Thomas, Hoomanabooty, etc...

The only exception in my opinion is if an elite edge rusher is available, go ahead and spend whatever it takes.

neugey · 02-12-2017, 11:56 AM

I heard the Rams are switching to a 3-4 with Wade Phillips - which will be interesting because they have quite a good 4-3 setup. Might be a team we want to get on the phone with; maybe we can trade Anthony and get a good 4-3 DE or DT in return.

rooftoften12 · 02-12-2017, 12:41 PM

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rooftoften12 · 02-12-2017, 12:43 PM

Get ready for the playoffs.. here comes "Biggie!!"

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K Major · 02-12-2017, 01:35 PM

Cap space isn't set yet.

The majority of teams haven't made any big cuts yet that will result in dead money. Then you have to account into how much free space will go to re signing a teams free agent.

There are a few teams that have expensive guys to retain in 2017.

RaginCajun83 · 02-12-2017, 01:52 PM

I don't doubt they could afford a big name BUT would it be the right move? Like with Byrd, let's not make a big splash just to make a big splash this time

triman · 02-12-2017, 02:26 PM

Guard is the position I would spend top dollar on . Bigger need than most think.

02-12-2017, 10:25 AM	#1
Threaded by SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,201 Blog Entries: 29 Rating: (0 votes - average) The Saints are in decent shape with their salary cap for the first time in a few years. They enter this offseason without having to restructure or chop contracts to give themselves money to play with. New Orleans stands about $30 million under the projected cap, according to OverTheCap.com. With Drew Brees at 38 years old and entering the final year of his contract, I would assume the Saints will attempt to be aggressive in landing some immediate impact players. The problem the Saints will face is the amount of teams with an eye-popping amount of cap space. Nineteen teams carry more space into this year's spending spree than the Saints. Plus, 13 teams holding more than $40 million in space (Cleveland has more than $100 million in space). The Saints will have the room to make a monster splash if they want to go that route. But New Orleans has a few holes it might yearn to fill. So going all in on one player would probably be a mistake. Spend smart, but spend often should be the Saints' mantra in about a month when free agency opens. read more on NOLA Attached Thumbnails
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02-12-2017, 10:35 AM	#2
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589	Re: Can the Saints afford a free-agent splash? The Saints have splashed before - actually, more like belly flopped in their free agent spending. I dont mind if they spend every dime of their cap space, as long as it's not on injury-prone FA's that can't stay on the field. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk jeanpierre and Sarik like this.
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589

02-12-2017, 10:56 AM	#3
hagan714 LB Mentallity Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15,870 Blog Entries: 68	Re: Can the Saints afford a free-agent splash? Offense is the only thing a couple of pieces here and/or there will make a force almost unstoppable with money left over. we have to many holes to fill on defense and need to upgrade talent across the board

02-12-2017, 11:45 AM	#4
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,723	Re: Can the Saints afford a free-agent splash? As long as we have Brees, we should spend every penny of our cap space trying to field a team to win it all. I prefer several smaller splashes over 1 or 2 big splashes though. Gimme the upper 2nd tier guys like Jabari Greer, Darren Shraper, Fujita, Shanle, Lewis, Breaux, McCray, Hargrove, Goodwin, Dave Thomas, Hoomanabooty, etc... The only exception in my opinion is if an elite edge rusher is available, go ahead and spend whatever it takes. dizzle88 and st thomas like this.

02-12-2017, 11:56 AM	#5
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,719 Blog Entries: 13	Re: Can the Saints afford a free-agent splash? I heard the Rams are switching to a 3-4 with Wade Phillips - which will be interesting because they have quite a good 4-3 setup. Might be a team we want to get on the phone with; maybe we can trade Anthony and get a good 4-3 DE or DT in return. Danno likes this.

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02-12-2017, 12:41 PM	#6
rooftoften12 Rookie Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 25	Re: Can the Saints afford a free-agent splash? Sent from my LG-K371 using Tapatalk hagan714 likes this.
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02-12-2017, 12:43 PM	#7
rooftoften12 Rookie Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 25	Re: Can the Saints afford a free-agent splash? Get ready for the playoffs.. here comes "Biggie!!" Sent from my LG-K371 using Tapatalk
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02-12-2017, 01:35 PM	#8
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,622 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Can the Saints afford a free-agent splash? Cap space isn't set yet. The majority of teams haven't made any big cuts yet that will result in dead money. Then you have to account into how much free space will go to re signing a teams free agent. There are a few teams that have expensive guys to retain in 2017. Euphoria likes this.

02-12-2017, 01:52 PM	#9
RaginCajun83 Hou Saints Fan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 5,050	Re: Can the Saints afford a free-agent splash? I don't doubt they could afford a big name BUT would it be the right move? Like with Byrd, let's not make a big splash just to make a big splash this time

02-12-2017, 02:26 PM	#10
triman 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 783	Re: Can the Saints afford a free-agent splash? Guard is the position I would spend top dollar on . Bigger need than most think. ScottF, K Major and rooftoften12 like this.
triman 500th Post Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 783