Saints Who Could Make a Big Leap in 2021
The Saints are in somewhat unfamiliar territory without Drew Brees being around to lead the charge in 2021. However, with that comes some excitement for the future of New Orleans. While it is a considerable unknown, this looks be a team that will have to rely on their younger players to remain a contender in the league, especially after losing some veterans in free agency. Here's a look at some of the players who could make a big leap and have a larger role in the new season.
Adam Trautman
Both Jared Cook and Josh Hill are out of the picture, which makes it instantly the Adam Trautman show. He showed a lot of promise as a rookie, and the elements he brings to the offense can be very exciting to watch. Whether it's going to be Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill starting for the team, Trautman should see some targets come his way. Winston had O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate combine for 108 targets in 2019, hauling in 70 catches for 770 yards and 5 touchdowns. They also accounted for 44 first downs. Trautman could be in for a strong season of production.
Marquez Callaway
No Emmanuel Sanders means the Saints are back to finding a definitive answer for their No. 2 wide receiver spot. Marquez Callaway appeared in 11 games last season, starting in 3 contests for the team. His workload started in Week 4 against the Lions, as he notched the first catch of his career, and then turned it up a notch the following week against the Chargers (4 catches, 34 yards). He also had a considerable impact in the return game. In Week 6 against the Panthers, Callaway had his best and most memorable game of the year, catching 8 balls for 75 yards on 10 total targets. Callaway could push Tre'Quan Smith some, but figures to be no less than their No. 3 option right now.
Shy Tuttle
Sheldon Rankins and Malcom Brown are both out of the equation for the Saints defensive line, and their third-year undrafted find out of Tennessee should be first in line to start opposite of David Onyemata as the run-stopping nose tackle. Shy Tuttle appeared in 326 snaps on defense in 13 games. From an analytics standpoint, he graded out 33rd out of 125 interior defensive linemen with a 73.1 overall grade. Ryan Nielsen has a good track history of developing talent on the team's line, and Tuttle has the potential to be the next big one for the Saints.
Cesar Ruiz
Cesar Ruiz was drafted with the intention of battling it out with Erik McCoy for the center position, but the reality is that McCoy was playing so well there that it made it difficult for a transition. Ruiz had a rough start to the year, not really finding his groove and was often passed over in favor of Nick Easton. There was a rotation that started manifesting itself in-game at times, and then Ruiz found himself starting.
Without a doubt, Ruiz had a mixed bag in his first year, and he needs to do some quick growing to become the team's staple at right guard. He's had plenty of flashing moments, but it also came with growing pains. Look for him to have a better season and get some good tips from new offensive line coach Brendan Nugent and assistant Zach Strief.
Carl Granderson
Losing Trey Hendrickson and his 13.5 sacks was inevitable during the offseason. Prioritizing keeping Marcus Williams was definitely the right move, and now New Orleans needs to get that sack production elsewhere. A good start would be to have their starters Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport produce, and there's some intrigue for what Tanoh Kpassagnon brings to the table. Carl Granderson could throw his name into the hat, as he looks to build off his 5-sack campaign from last season. He has some good moves in his repertoire, and could easily double his 291 snaps from 2020.
Stock Watch on Other Players
- Grant Haley - The loss of Justin Hardee makes for an opening gunner spot opposite of J.T. Gray. Haley had a nice showing in the regular season finale, essentially making a name for himself when given a chance in the spotlight. Haley could be battling it out with someone like Keith Washington.
- Malcolm Roach - Roach rotated a good bit with Shy Tuttle in the lineup, and they both should see more playing time, regardless of what the Saints decide to up until the NFL draft. Roach had 233 snaps in 9 games played last season.
- Blake Gillikin - The starting punter role is his after the team moved on from Thomas Morstead. He'll have big shoes to fill, but offers a lot of upside and should provide plenty of leg for special teams.
- Zack Baun - He seems like a natural player to make a big leap, but it's also going to depend on how New Orleans plays defensively. The team rolled a lot of nickel formation, often turning to Demario Davis and Kwon Alexander/Alex Analone. Baun was primarily a special teams presence, playing in just 82 defensive snaps. The pressure is on for the third-rounder to make a big leap.
- Chase Hansen - There's a glaring hole open at weakside linebacker, and if he can stay healthy, he has a good opportunity to make the competition interesting. He's been with the team since 2019, but the injuries have got in the way. He did get called up for the two playoff games, but that time was spent on special teams.
