Saints Top Remaining Need According to a National Publication
After a 7-10 season and two straight years of missing the playoffs, the New Orleans Saints had a very aggressive offseason. Their biggest move was signing Derek Carr, a quarterback expected to elevate their struggling offense back to a top-10 unit.
New Orleans brought in RB Jamaal Williams, TE Foster Moreau, and DTs Nate Shepherd and Khalen Saunders to either start or play significant roles. Other veterans like Lonnie Johnson, Jonathan Abram, Bryan Edwards, James Washington, Keke Coutee, Lynn Bowden, Jesse James, and Billy Price were signed to strengthen depth. They'll supplement what looks like a strong draft class.
The Saints come into 2023 with a much-improved team. However, there are still a few key roster questions that will need to be answered during training camp. NFL.com writer Kevin Patra listed that network's top-10 roster holes throughout the league.
The New Orleans Saints were listed at Number 7, but not at the position you might think.
Here's what Patra had to say about what he feels is the Saints biggest need.
Rank #7 New Orleans Saints
TOP NEED : Defensive Line
The Saints lost bulk in the middle, with David Onyemata (Falcons) and Shy Tuttle (Panthers) leaving for division rivals. Oft-injured first-round defensive end Marcus Davenport (Vikings) also departed in free agency. Khalen Saunders was a solid signing, but can he be more than the rotational player he was in Kansas City? The Saints hope rookies Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey can help plug the holes. Of course, we've seen New Orleans rookies struggle out of the gate in the past (SEE: Davenport and 2021 first-rounder Payton Turner). For a club out to win the NFC South, the Saints are counting an awful lot on soon-to-be 34-year-old Cameron Jordan to generate a pass rush.
Dec 30, 2022; Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (11) sacks Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) during the 2022 Orange Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
There's no doubt that the Saints needed to upgrade their defensive line this offseason. Especially at defensive tackle. New Orleans had 48 sacks in 2022, fourth most in the league, but ranked near the bottom of the NFL in hurries and pressures. A usually dominant run defense also plummeted to the bottom of the league.
Much of the Saints offseason focus was improving the defensive line. Saunders and Shepherd, not mentioned by Patra, were signed within 24 hours after losing Onyemata and Tuttle. Bresee was a highly disruptive interior defender at Clemson, one of the country's most respected defenses. Collectively, this is a much more dynamic group of defensive tackles.
Yes, Jordan will turn 34 this offseason and enters his 13th NFL season. Despite a below-average statistical output (for him), Jordan remains one of the NFL's best defensive ends. At this stage of his career, he needs help up front to be most effective.
Foskey was a second-round pick with a first-round grade. He replaces Davenport, a talented but perennial underachiever. The underrated duo of Carl Granderson and Tanoh Kpassagnon join Foskey to hopefully make up for 2021 first-round bust Payton Turner.
Four new pieces were added to the New Orleans defensive line this offseason, including two rookies. Obviously there will be questions about the personnel changes until they pan out, but it's clear that this spot was a focus of offseason moves.
Oct 23, 2021; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey (7) pressures USC Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis (9). Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY
One area on the New Orleans roster, perhaps overlooked by Patra, that could be an even bigger concern is at linebacker. Demario Davis remains one of the league's best defensive players and Pete Werner is an emerging star. However, there is no proven depth after the offseason departure of Kaden Elliss.
D'Marco Jackson is a promising player, but the 2022 fifth-round choice has yet to play an NFL game. Zack Baun has been a poor schematic fit since being a third-round pick in 2020. Anfernee Orji and Nick Anderson each have intriguing traits, but both are undrafted rookies. The rest of the depth chart has been nothing more than special teams contributors with no defensive experience.
On paper, the Saints have plenty of talent along their entire front seven. New Orleans is expected to again have one of the league's better defenses, but to have an elite unit those new additions need to mesh and develop quickly.
There is still a surprising amount of talent still on the free-agent market at defensive tackle, edge, and especially linebacker. With the start of training camp at the end of July, don't be surprised if New Orleans brings in a few more veterans at these positions.
