Football
With the dust settling from the NFL Draft and rookie mini-camp kicking into full gear, my eyes instinctively look towards what football players are still sitting out there for one reason or another as the game of musical chairs is slowing down (chairs being roster spots). I’m not thinking about this with a salary cap perspective as I was a political science major and went to law school because I took 3 credit hours of math that whole time, not to mention that the New Orleans Saints front office has shown over time that the salary cap is just an illusion that they will deal with in the future.
I’ll also surrender that there are some positions with no need to add anyone. My dream of Aaron Rodgers suiting up in black and gold is probably dead, much to the delight of most everyone reading this. However, I do think that there’s some folks out there that might still be looking for a spot and could really help out the Saints.
Wide Receiver:
I actually am higher on the wide receiver room than I probably should be but I’m a rosy, red glasses kind of fan in the off season. However, given that I’m of the belief that there’s going to be a young QB taking most of the snaps, I don’t think you can have a shortage of talented pass catchers to help clean up some of their growing pains.
Keenan Allen – Although he’s likely looking to team up with a contender (which I think the Saints are, see back to that rose red glasses comment) he put up 70 receptions, 744 yards and 7 touchdowns last year. His numbers are trending down from ‘23 to ‘24 but he’s a reliable pass catcher and there was also a team switch in there.
Amari Cooper – Similar to Allen, last year with the Buffalo Bills Cooper had the lowest receptions, yards and touchdowns of his career.
Gabe Davis – Sensing a trend here, Gabe Davis also had a down year comparatively this year with 20 receptions on 239 yards and 2 touchdowns, all career lows. However, he is a bit younger and might be less looking to catch on with a contender than the other two.
All three guys are over 6’0 tall receivers who could provide a veteran target for Rattler or Shough, all three had down years on a new team and now find themselves searching for a new spot. Ultimately, I think if I had to pick one, I would go with Allen, getting him on a one-year deal would minimize future cap issues while also adding some veteran presence to the position room.
Edge Rusher:
Obviously, edge rusher is going to be a concern if for nothing other than depth. Cam Jordan is probably my favorite player, and I will be convinced that he can get into the backfield until he proves he can’t, and maybe I’ll be convinced a year after he retires that he could still take a few snaps. However, with the position group getting a bit older, it might be time to look at some depth pieces.
Von Miller – Released by the Bills, Von Miller still managed to get after the QB last year with 6 sacks, obviously he’s not the guy who was putting up double digit sacks anymore, but he does raise chickens and still seems to be able to get it done with less snaps.
Za’Darius Smith – I have a soft spot in my heart for this guy, I always have, and I have no clue why, maybe because he went to Kentucky and I spent most of my life in the state. At 32 years old he still was able to get it done last year for the Detroit Lions, racking up 9 sacks and 35 total tackles. He’s clocking in at double the snap count of Von Miller as well last year.
Jadeveon Clowney – Former number one overall pick, still getting snap counts last year in the 600s with one of the better tackling years he’s had in his career. I still see him as the guy who did this:
I’m not sure any college play lives rent free in my head more than that one.
Give me Clowney, he’s bounced around but was in the division last year with the Carolina Panthers, I think he still has some juice in there. If he can have one more hit like that college one, it’s all worth it.
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