It’s really, really difficult to predict how a team’s season is going to play out. Especially months in advance, before pricey free agent additions have even hit the field and the rookie class has been drafted.
But ESPN’s Mike Clay is a very well-regarded prognosticator. He maintains a model of individual stats for fantasy football each season, and he’s looking very lukewarm on the New Orleans Saints. He’s predicting a modest performance from Derek Carr and his supporting cast, and a respectable showing from the Saints defense (despite all the talent they’ve lost this spring).
Let’s break down his projections for each position group two weeks out from the 2023 NFL draft: