Here are four positions the Saints MUST address this offseason.

By Chris Dunnells@dunnellz Jan 31, 2019, 8:00am CST







https://www.canalstreetchronicles.co...raft-tight-end

I would add strong safety to the list too. Vonn Bell has one year left on his contract and Kurt Coleman was a bust signing.

I'd like to bring Dez back to camp however that injury he sustained is tricky + he's older. Leave no stone un turned in Free Agency though. Gotta sign a chain mover (Tate, Humphries, Jesse James type) on 3rd down.

In my opinion Carr & Tommy Lee are wasted roster spots.

I'd like to bring Dez back to camp however that injury he sustained is tricky + he's older. Leave no stone un turned in Free Agency though. Gotta sign a chain mover (Tate, Humphries, Jesse James type) on 3rd down.

In my opinion Carr & Tommy Lee are wasted roster spots.

Probably the best roster in the history of the franchise, cracks in the roster became apparent as too much trust was put in players who've failed, again, to be available...

A lack or reserve strength was exposed on the offensive line with the glaringly missing Senio Kelemete, an All-Star reserve offensive lineman. And mercurial cornerbacks after our elite starters...

As the Saints have a solid roster, it comes with implied tells to our opponents in the draft. So we'll continue what's been good practice - round the roster out in free agency, then draft BPAs...

We're likely at the end of the Brees window this season and with few bullets in the draft because of Payton's sans soins handling of draft picks...

We'll need to draft for dependable depth, picks that must count - not care-free throwaways like the 2018 4th round pick; if Ireland had more say in the 2017 draft - go back to that process that worked...


Offensive Line

This is where our offseason priority should be - Brees' Protection - and it all starts upfront...

I've complained for seasons that Armstead may be a terrific athletic talent, but he's soft, makes crucial mistakes in games he bothers to be available and seems to cherry-pick those games he plays...

Predictedly, Armstead missed nearly half the regular season; his exit is long over-due. Move him for a second day pick or upgrade the second rounder to a late first and also get back a Day 3 pick...

While I've new-found respect for Peat playing just ten (10) days removed from rods surgically placed in his hand that he uses in his initial punch, critical to an interior lineman, play out the contract, and reevaluate...

Like Brees, Unger is getting older and uses his wits more than braun now. At times, he seemed to be wearing down. Tom is a career reserve, so that doesn't work. Revisit look with Clapp as Center is in order...

Warford was a consolation signing and his ProBowl season (whatever that's worth these days after Armstead was giving a consolatory nod) was a fluke in a down-year for right guards.

Loomis' failed calculus in not signing Zeitler was obvious match-ups with elite defensive interiors such as the Rams; we may want to spend a second round pick on a Guard if the value is there...

How Ramczyk was overlooked for an excellent level of play in post-season honors is beyond me. Expect big things as the big guy goes into his third season.

Again, I'll Argue that he should be our Left Tackle, his natural position, one where he had a higher grade at LT as a rookie than Armstead...


Tight End

Yes, we needed a saavy Tight End to take the stress off of @CantGuardMike with double coverage and Brees having that safety valve...

A smart, well-rounded, veteran tight end who's still young, familiar with league play, only needs to worry about lingo and timing. Jesse James should be our guy...

James leading a four (4)-manned unit of James, Josh Hill, Garret Griffin, and Dan Arnold, with the latter getting significant snaps to move past the rookie stage, this would be an excellent championship-level unit...

Saints need to make a hard-sell to Jesse James. And since Payton and the Mickster were unable to close the deal as key suitors last year with other FA targets, I'd let Brees lead the effort...


Wide Receiver

Don't believe receiver is as big an issue as some believe. We had several rookies playing significant minutes and after showing glimpses, will take the next step of progression. Patience is needed with this group...

However, we still could use that Moore/Snead IV/Edelman move-the-chains type. If Brees has confidence issues in Carr, bring Adam Humphries in for a visit, which takes away a division opponent's weapon...


Defensive End

With a bump inline with the increased salary cap space, invite Okafor back to round out defensive end - now a source of strength, even if we overspent in draft capital recently with Davenport...

We need a defensive end that's stout against the run, can provide some snap relief for Jordan and Davenport...


Defensive Tackle

How much we can afford for a NT and how willing he wants to stay will be the key question with Tyeler Davison. While his individual grade was not elite, he was the point of attack on a No. 1 ranked run defense.

Messing with that chemistry could be some serious voodoo and cause the defense to regress. Stallworth is impressive, but rotating these guys to keep 'em fresh was huge...

DT3 is where the concern should be. Rankins is likely lost for the first half of the season. Even if he comes back sooner, he won't be full-strength. Long term concern - Can Rankins stay healthy, available?

Onyemata has shown he's more than capable of taking the duties as a starter, even grading higher than Rankins at times. Plus he's versatile, playing three DL positions...

Speaking of versatilty, letting Mitchell Loewen go was a big mistake...

To keep the Big O for wearing down, being susceptible to injury, use both Free Agency and the Draft to find a young, quality DT3 to spell the Big O and allow Onyemata to move along the D-line matchup wins...


Linebacker

We've FINALLY got a good thing here with BOTH personnel AND a HOF position Coach - Don't mess with a good thing.

I'd bring in some young talent to push Roberston, T'eo and perhaps improve an already good special teams unit...

This will be a Great landing spot for back of the draft, UDFA linebackers that have the athleticism, but need development...


Defensive Backs

It's only one season with this krewe, and despite the slow start, this unit recovered from the critical loss of Patrick Robinson at nickel and really came on with that addition of Eli Apple...

Apple who seems to have redeemed himself and found a home...

The competion and reuniting with Lattimore, who has the potential to be the best cornerback in the league when he's not reading his press...

With a healthy Patrick Robinson, this unit will be an elite group, perhaps best in the league provided Lattimore keeps it real...

But the position cries for depth badly in a passing league. With Lattimore/Apple still under rookie contracts, explore a short-term rental in Free Agency and/or use a high draft pick to cement this group...

At safety, I'm still not sure if it was Allen's tinkering or Mr. Marcus' inability to get past the 2018 divisional playoff game, but Williams was tentative all season long. Aaron Glenn needs to fix this.

Coleman is not a strong safety nor a nickel back, he's a free safety and we should be playing either two FS back or just keep him as an affordable reserve to Williams who's rookie contract allows it.

Vonn Bell plays just okay, but wasn't worth the two draft picks, and subsequent third (to acquire Onyemata who could've been had with one of the picks for Bell) that it took to get him.

Bears Eddie Jackson, named All-Pro was taken in the fourth round of the same draft which illustrates my point that it's better to have MORE darts in the draft to increase your chances of a hit.

Will the press dig deeper in the Jamerson decision...


Kicking Game

Get Lutz extended now. He's the best kicker we've had in the Payton era...

Morstead does everything right despite a pricey cap number, don't mess with a good thing...


Quarterback

Unless we're drafting in the top five of the draft or a free agent really wants to be here, you're not going to do anything. Sometimes Football Karma decides...

We continue to roll with our Leader, Drew Brees. No the arm strength isn't there and the pressure got to him at times, but this is his team until he knows that he's done and he's mature enough to make that move...

Bridgewater is not an answer. He's never stayed healthy and worse, was outplayed by a rookie in his first NFL start...

And the excuse of supporting cast doesn't hold as BOTH teams lacked elite talent that game, yet Bridgewater still had @CantGuardMike...

Again the prior offseason calculus of Payton/Mickster cost us to waste a third round pick on Teddy when quality reserves were still on the FA market and with cap space left over and we went Savegely Cheap...

Taysom Hill is a phenomena. Beginning to suspect that Payton has found a creative way to get a young QB in a game to see how he reacts at NFL speed to acclimate him to see if he's starter in this league.

The incredible athleticism is definitely there. His collegiate injury history looks to be past him from his very physical play. Despite his age (Mormon Mission) he still has little mileage.

What's great is he's integral to the current offense so he's not burning a third active roster spot as he develops. Perhaps the best roster management Payton has done as Head Coach...