C.J. Gardner-Johnson for Vonn Bell, or P.J. Williams

Bell finally broke out for the Saints in 2019, emerging as a turnover machine who recorded his first career interception while leading the league in fumble recoveries (5). He’s a sure tackler and plays with a versatile skills set, making plays close to the line of scrimmage on blitzes while also running ably deep downfield in coverage. It’s just a shame that it took him so long to win a starting job (remember when Kurt Coleman started ahead of him in 2018?) and that the Saints have so many other free agents to pay this summer. Williams probably won’t be expensive, but he’s kind of redundant if the Saints have both Gardner-Johnson and Patrick Robinson to defend the slot.

At least they added Gardner-Johnson, who was one of the team’s biggest-impact rookies. Gardner-Johnson runs well and hits hard, looking more like a linebacker than a contact-anxious defensive back in run defense. He tackles with his head up and could teach his teammates a thing or two about good technique. The rookie also has ball skills for days, even if he wasn’t tested often in coverage. He figures to be a critical piece to the secondary moving forward. The only question is whether he replaces Bell (the more natural fit) or Williams (Gardner-Johnson’s best plays came in slot coverage, which is where Williams started last season).

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