The New Orleans Saints have been one of the worst team’s in football as of late, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still talent on the roster.
It is almost impossible to project what Mickey Loomis and Co. in the Saints front office will do next season, but handing out a lot of extensions can seemingly be ruled out.
Among the list of players that are set to hit free agency next season, Pro Football Focus listed two New Orleans players in the Top 50 set to be available.
Tight end Juwan Johnson was the highest-rated Saint at No. 37 overall. Here is what they had to say about the pass catcher:
“There will be slim pickings at the tight end position in free agency this offseason, but Johnson offers a large catch radius and good hands over the middle, critical on third down and in the red zone. His 17 touchdowns over the past four seasons ranks eighth among tight ends, and his 8.9-yard average depth of target ranks seventh, illustrating he is not just a check-down outlet but a true downfield threat at the position.”
It may seem harsh to say, but Johnson has always seemed like a better player on paper than on the field. He was an exciting wide receiver-turned-tight end, but hasn’t panned out. The 28-year-old has 38 catches for 402 yards and three touchdowns this year. New Orleans likely won’t miss him too bad.
Next up on the list was defensive end Chase Young at No. 49. This was what PFF said about Young:
“Young signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Saints after he was traded at last year’s deadline from the Washington Commanders to the San Francisco 49ers. Through Week 13, he was a top-30 edge defender in total quarterback pressures (41) and pressure rate (12.6%). He may not be the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate he looked like as a prospect ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, but Young is still a high-end No. 2 edge rusher for any team in need.”
The former second-overall selection was a bit of a surprising signing in the offseason and has not been super impactful on the field since coming over. He is a player that generate pressure, but rarely closes out. His 5.5 sacks is good for a tie at second-place on the defense, but that says more about the unit than it does the player.
[lawrence-auto-related count=5]