2019 Saints NFL Free Agency

jeanpierre · 02-26-2019, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by saintsfan1976

I think DT is paramount.

TE is more of a game plan position now instead of having a guy like Graham. Let's be honest, Kamara is the playmaker.

OL depth, yes. Another Strief type guy can be had later in the draft.

Vonn Bell is our SS of the future. Check out PFF quote: Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded Bell's run defense at 88.2, third among all NFL safeties in 2018. His coverage skills have improved greatly over each season however.
Bell's overall grade from PFF was 75.3, 27th out of 101 defensive backs at the position. The 24-yr. old safety played better in coverage as this season progressed as well, often capably taking on an opposing tight end or even wideout out of the slot

I would add WR, LB depth (maybe starter over Klein) don't see solid LB options this year in our range.

Don't get the wanting to upgrade/replace Klein - this reminds me of the criticism towards Shanle who many here regret criticizing during those lean LBing years just a couple of seasons back...

A.J. can play MIKE well, not great, but well. And he had some terrific games last year at SAM (e.g. Dallas game). Further, we're in Nickel, Heavy Nickel, or Dime more than 50% of the time...

We're fine with Klein (yeah, I just did that); we need to worry about not having but one DT, just one, UNO DT under contract able to play the first four games of the upcoming season...

K Major · 02-27-2019, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

A.J. can play MIKE well, not great, but well. And he had some terrific games last year at SAM (e.g. Dallas game). Further, we're in Nickel, Heavy Nickel, or Dime more than 50% of the time...

We're fine with Klein (yeah, I just did that); we need to worry about not having but one DT, just one, UNO DT under contract able to play the first four games of the upcoming season...[/B]

Klein was decent in 2018. Decent. Still nothing wrong with bringing in one more young, solid linebacker. Craig is 30 & Te'o is a Free Agent so no guarantees there.

I'd rank LB at #4 on need. IMO this is Klein's final season (expiring contract) in NO.

Saints need to take the Patriots approach and always look to upgrade in the off season.

jeanpierre · 02-27-2019, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by K Major

Klein was decent in 2018. Decent. Still nothing wrong with bringing in one more young, solid linebacker. Craig is 30 & Te'o is a Free Agent so no guarantees there.

I'd rank LB at #4 on need. IMO this is Klein's final season (expiring contract) in NO.

Saints need to take the Patriots approach and always look to upgrade in the off season.

https://grades.profootballfocus.com/...itions/show/LB

Klein was graded comparably to Anthony Barr, Myles Jack; factor in for what we're paying, it's a no-brainer to keep him around...

Also a re-visit of how terrible the selection of Rick Leonard in the fourth round was last year and how we'll be paying for it...

K Major · 02-27-2019, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

https://grades.profootballfocus.com/...itions/show/LB

Klein was graded comparably to Anthony Barr, Myles Jack; factor in for what we're paying, it's a no-brainer to keep him around...

Also a re-visit of how terrible the selection of Rick Leonard in the fourth round was last year and how we'll be paying for it...

FWIW, I never take PFF as the gospel for player evaluation.

There are many Head coaches (Zimmer & Bellichick) who question the validity of their data. It is what it is.

As for the past draft, I simply can't question what the Saints front office (Ireland, SP & his staff) do with their draft picks ... especially after evaluating the last 3 years of players/studs we've acquired.

jeanpierre · 02-27-2019, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by K Major

FWIW, I never take PFF as the gospel for player evaluation.

There are many Head coaches (Zimmer & Bellichick) who question the validity of their data. It is what it is.

As for the past draft, I simply can't question what the Saints front office (Ireland, SP & his staff) do with their draft picks ... especially after evaluating the last 3 years of players/studs we've acquired.

There's a total body of work since 2006 that is very inconsistent. Some considered 2006 to be one of the best drafts ever - netting a Loomis an Executive of the Year Award...

But all 32 teams passed on Marques Colston for the better part of seven rounds, including Loomis - the real valued pick of that draft was Jahri Evans in the fourth; even 7th rd Strief took four seasons to develop...

Real problem I have is what we're seeing now - a great many deal of rookie contracts coming to maturation and we're not bringing affordable drafted talent to make the salary schedule manageable, flexible...

You just can't keep spending two-for-one on draft picks and stay competitive consistently - New England Patriots are the model for good cap management and willingness to draft players and trust them on the field...

Payton/Loomis continue stubbornly to avoid investing heavily (more picks) in the draft and rely too much on free agency and care-free spending of draft capital...

No, Payton and Loomis don't get a pass with me, nor should they with anyone, when it comes to bad personnel free agency choices and poor draft management handicapping this Brees-era from Championships...

Payton/Loomis brought in Ireland and they should let him do his job and their job should be to get out of the way and focus on their jobs - coaching, managing game plans and managing the salary caps.

In so far as PFF, I don't consider it an absolute, but a relative tool for evaluating discussing talent, but for what is spent on a Sam/Mike Linebacker, he's one of the great values Payton/Loomis got right...

Respect you don't like Klein, and that's okay - we're just not going to have elite talent at every position and I'll take Klein above average talent at a two-down linebacking spot for, say, an elite CB, DE...

K Major · 02-27-2019, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

Respect you don't like Klein, and that's okay. But for what is spent on a Sam and Mike Linebacker, he's one of the great values Payton/Loomis got right...

Our dear friend Hagan was beating the drum for AJ in Free Agency and he got his man. I will say his first year in NO was disappointing however year 2 ...

IMO AJ Klein was the most improved player on defense for New Orleans in 2018

.

FinSaint · 02-27-2019, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by K Major

Our dear friend Hagan was beating the drum for AJ in Free Agency and he got his man. I will say his first year in NO was disappointing however year 2 ...

IMO AJ Klein was the most improved player on defense for New Orleans in 2018 .

I might give that award to a fellow linebacker instead... but I think Klein played really well at times, although he was also very inconsistent for most of the season.

I think the starting LBs are more than good enough with Davis-Anzalone-Klein, but it is the depth behind those guys that is lacking even with Robertson still being a quality player - they need rising young studs to challenge the starters.

02-26-2019, 09:53 PM	#1
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: 2019 Saints NFL Free Agency Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 I think DT is paramount. TE is more of a game plan position now instead of having a guy like Graham. Let's be honest, Kamara is the playmaker. OL depth, yes. Another Strief type guy can be had later in the draft. Vonn Bell is our SS of the future. Check out PFF quote: Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded Bell's run defense at 88.2, third among all NFL safeties in 2018. His coverage skills have improved greatly over each season however. Bell's overall grade from PFF was 75.3, 27th out of 101 defensive backs at the position. The 24-yr. old safety played better in coverage as this season progressed as well, often capably taking on an opposing tight end or even wideout out of the slot I would add WR, LB depth (maybe starter over Klein) don't see solid LB options this year in our range. Don't get the wanting to upgrade/replace Klein - this reminds me of the criticism towards Shanle who many here regret criticizing during those lean LBing years just a couple of seasons back... A.J. can play MIKE well, not great, but well. And he had some terrific games last year at SAM (e.g. Dallas game). Further, we're in Nickel, Heavy Nickel, or Dime more than 50% of the time... We're fine with Klein (yeah, I just did that); we need to worry about not having but one DT, just one, UNO DT under contract able to play the first four games of the upcoming season... CheramieIII likes this.
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

02-27-2019, 07:51 AM	#2
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,799 Blog Entries: 3	Re: 2019 Saints NFL Free Agency Originally Posted by jeanpierre A.J. can play MIKE well, not great, but well. And he had some terrific games last year at SAM (e.g. Dallas game). Further, we're in Nickel, Heavy Nickel, or Dime more than 50% of the time... We're fine with Klein (yeah, I just did that); we need to worry about not having but one DT, just one, UNO DT under contract able to play the first four games of the upcoming season...[/B] Klein was decent in 2018. Decent. Still nothing wrong with bringing in one more young, solid linebacker. Craig is 30 & Te'o is a Free Agent so no guarantees there. I'd rank LB at #4 on need. IMO this is Klein's final season (expiring contract) in NO. Saints need to take the Patriots approach and always look to upgrade in the off season.

02-27-2019, 08:07 AM	#3
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: 2019 Saints NFL Free Agency Originally Posted by K Major Klein was decent in 2018. Decent. Still nothing wrong with bringing in one more young, solid linebacker. Craig is 30 & Te'o is a Free Agent so no guarantees there. I'd rank LB at #4 on need. IMO this is Klein's final season (expiring contract) in NO. Saints need to take the Patriots approach and always look to upgrade in the off season. https://grades.profootballfocus.com/...itions/show/LB Klein was graded comparably to Anthony Barr, Myles Jack; factor in for what we're paying, it's a no-brainer to keep him around... Also a re-visit of how terrible the selection of Rick Leonard in the fourth round was last year and how we'll be paying for it...
	Last edited by jeanpierre; 02-27-2019 at 08:23 AM..

02-27-2019, 08:54 AM	#5
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: 2019 Saints NFL Free Agency Originally Posted by K Major FWIW, I never take PFF as the gospel for player evaluation. There are many Head coaches (Zimmer & Bellichick) who question the validity of their data. It is what it is. As for the past draft, I simply can't question what the Saints front office (Ireland, SP & his staff) do with their draft picks ... especially after evaluating the last 3 years of players/studs we've acquired. There's a total body of work since 2006 that is very inconsistent. Some considered 2006 to be one of the best drafts ever - netting a Loomis an Executive of the Year Award... But all 32 teams passed on Marques Colston for the better part of seven rounds, including Loomis - the real valued pick of that draft was Jahri Evans in the fourth; even 7th rd Strief took four seasons to develop... Real problem I have is what we're seeing now - a great many deal of rookie contracts coming to maturation and we're not bringing affordable drafted talent to make the salary schedule manageable, flexible... You just can't keep spending two-for-one on draft picks and stay competitive consistently - New England Patriots are the model for good cap management and willingness to draft players and trust them on the field... Payton/Loomis continue stubbornly to avoid investing heavily (more picks) in the draft and rely too much on free agency and care-free spending of draft capital... No, Payton and Loomis don't get a pass with me, nor should they with anyone, when it comes to bad personnel free agency choices and poor draft management handicapping this Brees-era from Championships... Payton/Loomis brought in Ireland and they should let him do his job and their job should be to get out of the way and focus on their jobs - coaching, managing game plans and managing the salary caps. In so far as PFF, I don't consider it an absolute, but a relative tool for evaluating discussing talent, but for what is spent on a Sam/Mike Linebacker, he's one of the great values Payton/Loomis got right... Respect you don't like Klein, and that's okay - we're just not going to have elite talent at every position and I'll take Klein above average talent at a two-down linebacking spot for, say, an elite CB, DE... K Major likes this.
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way... Last edited by jeanpierre; 02-27-2019 at 09:30 AM..

02-27-2019, 09:00 AM	#6
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,799 Blog Entries: 3	Re: 2019 Saints NFL Free Agency Originally Posted by jeanpierre Respect you don't like Klein, and that's okay. But for what is spent on a Sam and Mike Linebacker, he's one of the great values Payton/Loomis got right... Our dear friend Hagan was beating the drum for AJ in Free Agency and he got his man. I will say his first year in NO was disappointing however year 2 ... IMO AJ Klein was the most improved player on defense for New Orleans in 2018 . CheramieIII, jeanpierre, Rugby Saint II and 1 others like this.

02-27-2019, 08:39 AM	#4
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,799 Blog Entries: 3	Re: 2019 Saints NFL Free Agency Originally Posted by jeanpierre https://grades.profootballfocus.com/...itions/show/LB Klein was graded comparably to Anthony Barr, Myles Jack; factor in for what we're paying, it's a no-brainer to keep him around... Also a re-visit of how terrible the selection of Rick Leonard in the fourth round was last year and how we'll be paying for it... FWIW, I never take PFF as the gospel for player evaluation. There are many Head coaches (Zimmer & Bellichick) who question the validity of their data. It is what it is. As for the past draft, I simply can't question what the Saints front office (Ireland, SP & his staff) do with their draft picks ... especially after evaluating the last 3 years of players/studs we've acquired.

02-27-2019, 04:03 PM	#7
FinSaint Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Finland... formerly Southern Virginia Posts: 4,963	Re: 2019 Saints NFL Free Agency Originally Posted by K Major Our dear friend Hagan was beating the drum for AJ in Free Agency and he got his man. I will say his first year in NO was disappointing however year 2 ... IMO AJ Klein was the most improved player on defense for New Orleans in 2018 . I might give that award to a fellow linebacker instead... but I think Klein played really well at times, although he was also very inconsistent for most of the season. I think the starting LBs are more than good enough with Davis-Anzalone-Klein, but it is the depth behind those guys that is lacking even with Robertson still being a quality player - they need rising young studs to challenge the starters. K Major likes this.

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