Saints checking off boxes with aggressive start to NFL free agency

hagan714 · 03-10-2017, 04:44 AM

Saints checking off boxes with aggressive start to NFL free agency BY NICK UNDERHILL
Mar 9, 2017 - 6:43 pm

The Saints entered the offseason with their wants, needs and musts laid out at various positions.

We can quibble over which spots ranked where. Maybe middle linebacker was less of a need than guard or cornerback was more important than improving the return game. What matters now is that many of the team’s needs were taken care of during the first day of free agency.

Need a guard? Here’s Larry Warford.

Need a middle linebacker? Welcome to New Orleans, A.J. Klein.

Need a returner? Hello, Ted Ginn.

The team’s two major needs at defensive end and cornerback remain outstanding, but New Orleans made a major move by agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Nick Fairley, which means the team will still be able to bring it up the middle as solutions on the edge continue to be explored.

And the solution at cornerback could still be yet to come in one form or another. Rumors have been floating about a potential trade that would send cornerback Malcolm Butler to New Orleans in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, but that is yet to take fire. That move would take a valuable player from the offense, but Ginn would be able to fill the vertical void, and the team would have a cornerback to pair with Delvin Breaux who could help buy more time for the pass rushers.

But that’s all hypothetical. In the interim, the Saints have made some strong moves that should help them get better, and each one appears to serve a purpose with a clear vision in mind.

And while some of the deals are pricey (Fairley will reportedly receiver $30 million over four years; Klein signed a deal worth $15 million over three seasons, and Warford is sure to be expensive), none of them were the richest assets or biggest names on the market. The Coby Fleener signing aside, this continues a trend from last season where New Orleans has taken a more measured approach to free agency.

The signing of Warford should give the Saints an upgrade at right guard, which could signal the end to Jahri Evans’ tenure in New Orleans. The 26-year-old had his best season as a rookie and is still trying to recapture that high after not allowing a sack that year, but he only allowed three sacks and 28 pressures in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus.
Saints checking off boxes with aggressive start to NFL free agency | Saints | theadvocate.com

03-10-2017, 04:44 AM	#1
hagan714 LB Mentallity Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15,870 Blog Entries: 68	Saints checking off boxes with aggressive start to NFL free agency Saints checking off boxes with aggressive start to NFL free agency BY NICK UNDERHILL Mar 9, 2017 - 6:43 pm The Saints entered the offseason with their wants, needs and musts laid out at various positions. We can quibble over which spots ranked where. Maybe middle linebacker was less of a need than guard or cornerback was more important than improving the return game. What matters now is that many of the team’s needs were taken care of during the first day of free agency. Need a guard? Here’s Larry Warford. Need a middle linebacker? Welcome to New Orleans, A.J. Klein. Need a returner? Hello, Ted Ginn. The team’s two major needs at defensive end and cornerback remain outstanding, but New Orleans made a major move by agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Nick Fairley, which means the team will still be able to bring it up the middle as solutions on the edge continue to be explored. And the solution at cornerback could still be yet to come in one form or another. Rumors have been floating about a potential trade that would send cornerback Malcolm Butler to New Orleans in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, but that is yet to take fire. That move would take a valuable player from the offense, but Ginn would be able to fill the vertical void, and the team would have a cornerback to pair with Delvin Breaux who could help buy more time for the pass rushers. But that’s all hypothetical. In the interim, the Saints have made some strong moves that should help them get better, and each one appears to serve a purpose with a clear vision in mind. And while some of the deals are pricey (Fairley will reportedly receiver $30 million over four years; Klein signed a deal worth $15 million over three seasons, and Warford is sure to be expensive), none of them were the richest assets or biggest names on the market. The Coby Fleener signing aside, this continues a trend from last season where New Orleans has taken a more measured approach to free agency. The signing of Warford should give the Saints an upgrade at right guard, which could signal the end to Jahri Evans’ tenure in New Orleans. The 26-year-old had his best season as a rookie and is still trying to recapture that high after not allowing a sack that year, but he only allowed three sacks and 28 pressures in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus. Saints checking off boxes with aggressive start to NFL free agency \| Saints \| theadvocate.com K Major likes this.
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