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Very few teams have a higher average age for players than the New Orleans Saints, per Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice. In fact, just one: the Atlanta Falcons (26.9 years). The Chicago Bears are tied with the Saints (26.7 each), making them the three oldest teams in the NFL, on average.
But context matters here. The Saints may be ranked all the way down the list at No. 30, but teams listed near the middle of the pack like the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, and Philadelphia Eagles (tied for No. 17) have an average age of just 26.0. So the Saints players are about eight months older, collectively, than mid-tier squads. Just one team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, has an average of below 25 (and they’re listed at 24.9).
So let’s not blow this out of proportion. The Saints do have some aging veterans at key spots like quarterback (Drew Brees is 41, and Taysom Hill is 30), tight end (Jared Cook is 33 and Josh Hill is 30), punter (Thomas Morstead is 34), and cornerback (Janoris Jenkins and Patrick Robinson will both be 32 this year), but they’re balanced by a young core of talent that’s been drafted and developed over recent years. It’s not like everyone is about to bolt into retirement.
How does this compare to previous Saints teams? From 2019 to 2016, they’ve carried an average age fluctuating between 26.2 (at its lowest, in 2019) and 26.5 (at its highest, in 2017). That’s pretty consistent, and has ranked in the bottom third of the NFL.
But it’s tough to argue with their results. In this same time period, the Saints have won three consecutive NFC South titles and gone as deep into the playoffs as the NFC Championship Game. They have their sights on a Super Bowl victory, and this group of experienced veterans and young stars just might have what it takes to reach that goal in 2020.
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