Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

This is not a vote of confidence for Siemian or Book.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Kevin White showed me nothing as a WR. He catches like he's been eating hot, buttered popcorn. Special teams ... sure.

Saints need more proven route runners with exceptional pass-catching ability.

It's time for new blood at the WR #4, 5 spots.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Will Fuller
Chris Godwin
J Crowder
JuJu S
Mike Williams
Christian Kirk
Allen Robinson
DJ Chark
James Washington

^^^ 2022 Free Agent WR's

All can help you move the chains on Sundays. Give Jameis or QB "X" legit targets & decent pass protection they'll produce.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

I really wanted to see more of Lil’Jordan. I was high on him when we signed him as a UDFA. He really showed some flashes this year when he was given an opportunity. He doesn’t have great speed but he is smooth and has great body control. Big target with good hands. I think he can replace Smith and would be a good RedZone target.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

If we signed Washington and re-signed Winston we could have JW throwing TDs to JW!

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Jeff Ireland won't have a free moment until after the draft is over. Good!

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

2022 Saints free agents the Falcons front office may pursue

By Dave Choate Jan 13, 2022, 10:00am EST

Free agency is awfully close. The Falcons are going to have to figure out who they want to add to this roster ahead of March, and if last year is any guide, Terry Fontenot and company will want to populate the roster with what they view as quality veterans who don’t break the bank. Some of those may be re-signed players—I’d expect one of Erik Harris or Duron Harmon to come back, for example—but the team will also look outside the walls of Flowery Branch for new additions.

It doesn’t hurt to look at teams these front office executives and coaches came from, especially when Dave Ragone stumped hard to add Cordarrelle Patterson, Arthur Smith presumably pushed for former favorites Tajae Sharpe and Parker Hesse, and executives like assistant director of college scouting Dwaune Jones had ties to early-offseason 2021 signings like punter Dom Maggio. We’ll start with Terry Fontenot’s former team, the eminently detestable Saints.

Last year, we looked at a list and the Falcons signed zero of them, so this is not going to be a precision tool so much as an interesting potential shopping list. We do know that Fontenot signed Erik Harris, who he was familiar with when the two overlapped in New Orleans, and that this team will once again need to do some of its building through free agency. Let’s look at a few impending free agents Fontenot would be familiar with and could potentially join Atlanta this offseason.

WR Tre’Quan Smith
Saints fans, I would say, are not big Smith fans. He’s had a deeply frustrating four year run in New Orleans, putting together just 112 receptions for 1,486 over that span, though he has scored 17 times. That doesn’t mean Fontenot and company won’t be interested.

Smith just showed out against the Falcons, catching five passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in the season finale, and he offers good size (6’2”, 210 pounds) and a history of red zone production. The team figures to prioritize both traits this offseason. Smith would ideally be something like the third or fourth receiver in Atlanta, and in that role he offers more upside than, say, Tajae Sharpe. I’d keep an eye on him.

S Marcus Williams
Let’s quote last year’s writeup, because nothing has really changed.

There are a lot of dots worth connecting here. A part-time starter for the past four years in New Orleans, Williams is probably most famous for getting his missed tackle on Stefon Diggs in the Minneapolis Miracle game, which will probably be enough to put many off of the signing. Outside of that brutal moment, Williams has been an aggressive, interesting safety who has 13 interceptions and 30 pass deflections in four seasons, a product of being a player who has terrific coverage instincts and is willing to contest catches. He’s a solid if not tremendous tackler and is solid in run support, but coverage is where he’s a definite asset.

Terry Fontenot will know Williams well, will be familiar with his strengths, and will absolutely arrive at the conclusion that Atlanta needs help at safety.

If the Falcons don’t bring back Isaiah Oliver, it’s quite possible Richie Grant will settle into the nickel role full-time, and only Jaylinn Hawkins is under contract at safety at the moment in addition to Grant. Williams would be a strong addition who was pretty stingy in coverage this past season, but obviously he won’t be cheap.

DB P.J. Williams
An interesting player, Williams was a third round pick back in 2015 with the Saints and has played his entire career there, so he may not be amenable to leaving. He’s played multiple spots for the Saints on defense over the years, but the noteworthy thing is that he hasn’t allowed a touchdown in coverage over the past two seasons and has really improved his coverage skills over that span. The Falcons have A.J. Terrell and Darren Hall locked in at cornerback, but Williams would be a nice get for this secondary.

DL Jalyn Holmes
Not all of these are going to be exciting. Holmes played in eight games this year and started nine a year ago, doing solid work in his snaps. He’ll be just 26 years old in 2022, extremely affordable and could slot in as a reserve rotational piece at defensive end. Fontenot likely would’ve been instrumental to bringing him into the Saints organization after he was cut by the Vikings, so there must have been something there he liked.

DT Shy Tuttle
I can tell you at least one reason I’d have a hard time with this signing at first. Tuttle is an RFA, so he’d have to be tendered at the original round level (he was an undrafted free agent) and then scooped up if the team wanted him.

Tuttle is a stone solid run defender and an occasionally useful pass rusher who would plug into Atlanta’s defensive line rotation. Atlanta’s run defense was not doomed by the performance of the line alone or even close to it, obviously, but they could use more stout defenders at the point of attack. Tuttle would be a good get to address just that.

RB Ty Montgomery
As a versatile reserve—Montgomery has dabbled at running back and wide receiver—and special teamer, he makes sense as a back-of-the-roster addition. Cordarrelle Patterson Diet Lite, if you will.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

“When you have too many average players, you have a average team” - Parcells.

Callaway & Deonte Harty (both undrafted guys) have been far more productive than Trequan Smith. Big deal he showed up vs Atlanta & that terrible defense.

I’d let him walk this off season.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

I would have liked to have seen how Tre'Quan did with Jameis throwing him the ball. He was injured through camp and the first five full games. But I get what you're saying.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Lil Jordan Humphrey seemingly made more plays than Smith did this season.

Agreed with you, let him walk.

He's basically a 200 pound blocker that lines up outside and learns how to catch about 3 times per year.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

How could it possibly make a difference who played with whom to the very idiot who said we'd go undefeated?

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Or draft Kyle Hamilton but I think using draft captial on defense early in the draft will leave us short on the offensive side because the talent drop off I hope they pat that man

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

We need a QB as well coach ...

I'm really concerned about the QB & WR. Offense in general. Hadn't read of any recent updates with MT & rehab.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

We really don't have to worry about losing anyone that the front office wants to keep. We're looking at close to $100 million in easily convertible cap. Both Underhill and Triplett have pointed this out numerous times recently. I don't think the issue will be with keeping who we have had, but finding the additional pieces we need. Where's that immediate impact WR to compliment Thomas? Where's another impact starter on the offensive line? Where's a better option than Winston at QB? I don't see the draft as an answer to any of those immediate needs.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

PJ really has started to blossom in that robber role at safety. You think he’s put himself on other team’s maps as a potential starter? I wouldn’t be surprised… I’ve been thinking about him replacing Malcolm Jenkins.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Agreed.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

It can’t be a coincidence that PJ Williams had his best year following the hiring of Kris Richard. We have to keep PJ because Kris has obviously unlocked something there.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Looks like he’s got Adebo off to a pretty good start as well.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Agreed, PJ used to be an absolutely liability but he's really become a solid contributor on this D.

If you think about the past few seasons, he's made a handful of huge plays in big moments, e.g;

2018 Pick 6 vs Vikings that they never recovered from

2018 vs Steelers, they were driving late for the tie / lead, PJ forced a fumble to seal the game

2021 - Pick 6 vs Brady to ice the game

Those are just a few that spring to mind for me.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

I hope Adebo can build off this, he was up and down a lot but he finished the season strong.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Def had some struggles through the year. Yet stepped up at times as well. Fine showing fo a rookie CB thrown into a starter roll IMO.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Not too many people can say they picked off Aaron Rodgers, although Jason David did it twice in 2008 lol

I did like in the second Falcons game, that they tried to attack him deep and he made them look stupid.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

As would be expected for a rookie. He's had an extremely impressive start.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Here's the most recent update on Winston's recovery. Amazing!

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

The 2021 defense was definitely a strength in New Orleans.

Anyone notice that opposing RBs had limited success in the run game in 2021.

Hope we can get Championship #2 before Ryan N leaves. He has been a phenomenal dline coach.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Yup. Saints were #1 in yards per carry (3.7). And that includes the anomalous game against the Eagles.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Calvin Ridley to the Saints? Not likely, but it would be nice.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

I'd love to have ANYONE of these guys but that's a hard sell without the uncertainty at QB.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

Considering Adebo opted out of playing football last season - it was always going to be a bit of a challenge getting used to the level of play in the NFL.

If he had played the previous season, he probably would have gone a lot higher in the draft.

Re: 2021 NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints
 

That is truly amazing. Knee injuries are not what they used to be.