New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver Assessment Prior To Free Agency
Newly hired offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is one of seven new offensive coaches for the New Orleans Saints. This group is tasked with improving an offense that finished ninth in scoring but 14th in total yardage last season.
New Orleans played better down the stretch offensively, averaging 29 points over their last six games and finally performing efficiently in the red zone. Quarterback Derek Carr played his best ball of the season and Kubiak has plenty of weapons for his new system. Fixing the offensive line is a major priority, but this unit has as much skill position talent as any team.
One area that the Saints could address is bringing in another big-bodied pass catcher for Carr. Former All-Pro WR Michael Thomas clearly wants out of New Orleans. With his contract voiding in March, it seems inevitable that he and the team will go separate ways. Even without Thomas, who missed the last seven games last year, Carr still has weapons in his receiving corps.
NFL.com writer Kevin Patra outlined the wide receiver position for every team going into free agency next month. Here was Patra's assessment of the Saints.
New Orleans Saints receiver Chris Olave (12) catches a pass over Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jeff Okudah (1). Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Top WRs under contract for 2024: Chris Olave, A.T. Perry
Key free agents: Michael Thomas (void), Rashid Shaheed (ERFA), Keith Kirkwood (UFA), Lynn Bowden (RFA)
Olave is a bona fide No. 1 receiver. The question is whether he can get on the same page with Derek Carr after the two operated with wonky chemistry most of the season. Shaheed won't be going anywhere as an exclusive rights free agent. That gives the Saints two solid building blocks, and Perry showed flashes as a rookie. New Orleans could use a big-bodied veteran who can fill the Thomas void in free agency. (Yes, the Saints are projected to be $80-plus million in the salary-cap hole, but they're in a class of their own at digging out of such holes and still making offseason moves. I'd expect nothing less with the staff heading into a vital season.)
New Orleans Saints receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) catches a long pass behind Indianapolis Colts cornerback Tony Brown (38). Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Olave has surpassed 1,000 yards in both of his first two seasons and led the team with 87 catches for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. He's a terrific route runner with the athleticism to beat defenses at every level.
Shaheed, an undrafted rookie in 2022, had 46 receptions for 719 yards and five touchdowns last season. He's an electrifying player that was misused by the previous regime, utilized mainly as a deep threat and not often enough on underneath routes.
Perry, a rookie sixth-round choice, caught 12 passes for 246 yards and four scores. Not impressive numbers, but all of that production came over the last eight games of the year. A taller target at 6'5" and 205-Lbs., Perry has excellent body control in traffic and underrated athleticism to create separation.
Klint Kubiak's system is predicated on using motion and formations to create mismatches for their best players. This should especially benefit Olave and Shaheed, who can be effective from the outside, slot, or even out of the backfield.
Deebo Samuel's versatility and running ability was used to perfection by San Francisco. While not as physical as Samuel, expect Shaheed's explosive open field traits to be used more by Kubiak on short/quick passes and jet sweeps to test defenses. Shaheed is also an underrated route runner, not utilized nearly enough in the intermediate zones by the previous coordinator.
Olave’s route running skills makes him the top target in this offense. However, he also has excellent open field elusiveness that should cause Kubiak to design plays similar to the way Samuel was used in San Francisco. Olave is expected to assume the more traditional route tree that Aiyuk had, but the fact that both he and Shaheed can threaten defenses in multiple ways will further expand the playbook for both.
Perry's role should increase exponentially in his second season. His impressive body control and elite leaping ability will likely result in more intermediate routes. Remember too that Alvin Kamara is capable of splitting out wide or lining up in the slot, giving each receiver even more flexibility in Kubiak's offense.
New Orleans Saints receiver A.T. Perry (17) catches a touchdown pass over Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7). Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Don't be surprised if Kirkwood or Bowden, perhaps both, are brought back on cheaper deals because of their familiarity with Carr. While not a top priority, the Saints will likely look to bring in at least one bigger wideout with athleticism in either free agency or the draft.
One free agent name to watch is K.J. Osborn. Over his first three years with the Minnesota Vikings, Osborn was a quality wideout. His best season was in 2021, when he caught 50 passes for 655 yards and 7 touchdowns with Klint Kubiak as his offensive coordinator and new Saints assistant Rick Dennison as an offensive assistant.
Devin Duvernay and Kendrick Bourne are two other names to watch. Duvernay played three years under new Saints WR coach Keith Williams in Baltimore. Bourne did not play for Kubiak in San Francisco, but spent four years in Kyle Shanahan's system, where Kubiak has most of his philosophy.
With offensive line and some defensive spots more glaring needs, it would be a little bit of a surprise to see the Saints heavily address wide receiver in the draft or free agency. It's possible if certain players are available, but expect Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and A.T. Perry to thrive in the multiple ways they'll be used by Kubiak and the new staff next season.
