Tag: age

The Saints have one of the NFL’s oldest rosters in 2023

The Saints have one of the NFL’s oldest rosters in 2023. There’s little correlation there with team success, but they are relying on a lot of veteran players:

According to the analysts at Spotrac, the New Orleans Saints have the league’s second-oldest roster with an age of 27.15. Only the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets (28.22) are ranked lower, with the league average falling at 26.37.

And there’s the flaw in this kind of analysis. At the end of the day the gap between the Saints and the youngest team (the squad Rodgers just left, the Green Bay Packers) is just 1.79 years. Even the NFL’s least-experienced roster is still over 25 years old on average. There is little to no correlation between average age and team success. The last three Super Bowl winners have clocked in at wildly different numbers:

  • 2022 Kansas City Chiefs: 26.08
  • 2021 Los Angeles Rams: 25.94
  • 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 27.07

It’s true that the Saints are counting on quality snaps from a lot of older, more-experienced players. Demario Davis and Cameron Jordan (both 34 years old) are going to play nearly every defensive snap. So will Tyrann Mathieu (31). Jimmy Graham (36) and Taysom Hill (33) will play lesser roles on offense, but Derek Carr (32) is taking over from Jameis Winston (29) at quarterback. Other key players who are 30 or older include James Hurst (31), Marcus Maye and Michael Thomas (both 30).

The good news is that some of the youngest players on the roster are also expected to play critical roles in the fall: rookies like Bryan Bresee and Kendre Miller (each 21), plus Chris Olave (23). Other young talents on the rise include Alontae Taylor, Trevor Penning, and Cesar Ruiz (all 24). If they can meet expectations and open the door for a larger youth movement next offseason, more the better. It’s easier to sustain success with young talent walking in the door.

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Chris Olave represents the Saints on PFF’s ‘top 25 under 25’ list

Chris Olave reps the Saints on this top 25 under 25 list from Pro Football Focus. The playmaker is younger than many of his rookie teammates:

Pro Football Focus analyst Trevor Sikkema highlighted the NFL’s top 25 players who have yet to celebrate their 25th birthday — and only one New Orleans Saints standout made the cut. Second-year wide receiver Chris Olave represented the Saints on Sikkema’s list, clocking in at No. 23. Here’s what Sikkema wrote of Olave:

“Olave finished his 2022 rookie campaign with an 82.9 receiving grade. He recorded 24 explosive plays of 20 yards or more, which was a top-10 mark among players under 25. His 14.9-yard average depth of target was one of the higher marks in the league, which showcases his deep-threat ability.”

The Saints will be leaning on Olave in a big way this year; it’s no sure thing that Michael Thomas will remain healthy often enough to lead the charge offensively with him, and Rashid Shaheed needs to show he can continue to produce on a heavier workload. Olave has already put in work with his new quarterback Derek Carr to prepare for an important season.

Olave just turned 23 years old a month ago on June 27, so he’s younger than many of his rookie teammates (including 24-year-old quarterback Jake Haener). He’s started his career strong and looks like a building-block for the Saints for years to come. It’s on him to keep up the momentum and meet that expectation.

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Which first-round prospects in 2023 draft meet Packers’ athleticism and age tendencies?

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has tendencies in the first round. Young, elite athletes. Who fits the mold in the 2023 draft class?

Although the selection of Devonte Wyatt provides an outlier, the five-year draft history of Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst paints a fairly clear picture in terms of first-round preferences: this team wants young, elite athletes on Day 1.

Wyatt was 24 when selected last year, but the six other first-round picks, including Quay Walker, were either 21 or 22 years old with a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.0 or higher. Of the seven first-rounders, five were 21 years old, and five had a RAS of 9.0 or higher.

Year Player Age RAS
2018 Jaire Alexander 21 9.54
2019 Rashan Gary 21 9.95
2019 Darnell Savage 21 8.35
2020 Jordan Love 21 8.46
2021 Eric Stokes 22 9.38
2022 Quay Walker 21 9.63
2022 Devonte Wyatt 24 9.60

Obviously, the Packers were comfortable deviating some from these tendencies. Taking Walker was an outlier in terms of positional value, while Wyatt was a big outlier in terms of age. Still, the age and athleticism tendencies can provide a road map to locating who could be prime first-round options for the Packers in 2023.

Let’s take a look, using NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board as a guide. Criteria: top 50 big board, 22 years old or younger, RAS of 8.0 or higher. Why the top 50? Walker was the consensus No. 49 player last year.

Broncos were the NFL’s fifth-oldest team in 2022

The Broncos were the NFL’s fifth-oldest team last season, with Russell Wilson (34) and Kareem Jackson (34) the team’s oldest players.

Broken down by snaps for every player, the Denver Broncos had the fifth-oldest team in the NFL last season, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell.

Denver’s average age on offense was 27.8, just slightly older than the average age of their defense (27.4). The team’s overall average age was 27.6. The NFL’s oldest team was the New Orleans Saints (28.1) and the youngest was the Detroit Lions (25.7).

The Broncos’ oldest players last year were quarterback Russell Wilson (34), safety Kareem Jackson (34), running back Latavius Murray (33), cornerback K’Waun Williams (31), offensive tackle Billy Turner (31), defensive lineman Mike Purcell (31) and kicker Brandon McManus (31).

Jackson, Murray and Turner are all set to become free agents in March, so that could lower the team’s average age if they are not re-signed.

Denver’s youngest players last year were running backs Javonte Williams and Tyler Badie, tight end Greg Dulcich, and cornerbacks Ja’Quan McMillian, Delonte Hood and Pat Surtain, who are all 22.

The Broncos have a good core of young and mid-career players, but the team would be wise to get a bit younger in 2023.

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The Saints were the NFL’s oldest team in 2022

The New Orleans Saints had the NFL’s oldest roster during the 2022 season. That doesn’t bode well for their fortunes in 2023:

Sheesh. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell found that the New Orleans Saints fielded the NFL’s oldest roster during the 2022 season, which doesn’t bode well for their fortunes in 2023. Ending the year with a 7-10 record and an old, unathletic roster doesn’t exactly spell a recipe for success — and the fact that most of the coaching staff will be returning for 2023 isn’t exactly a silver lining.

Barnwell adjusted each team’s average age for snaps played, which reflects the players who were on the field most often. And with the Saints relying so heavily on players over 30 like Andy Dalton (35), Demario DAvis (34), Cameron Jordan (33), Taysom Hill (32), James Hurst (31), as well as 30-year olds like Bradley Roby, David Onyemata, and Tyrann Mathieu, it does a lot to raise them higher in these rankings. Other venerable backups like Chris Harris Jr., Daniel Sorensen, and David Johnson also saw heavy snap counts late in the season.

But this is going to happen when the Saints whiff on highly-valued draft picks. They’ve cost themselves critical depth by missing on early-round picks spent on backups like Payton Turner, Ian Book, Zack Baun, and Rick Leonard over the last four cycles. Trotting out a series of greybeards to man the spot vacated by last summer’s bizarre C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade also didn’t help matters. Players selected in the top four rounds like this group should be making an impact and contributing on Sundays, not suiting up for other teams or watching the game in sweatpants.

New Orleans must nail its 2023 draft class if it wants to get back to being a competitive team. They can’t keep asking older players like Davis, Jordan, and Mathieu to pick up the slack. The good news is their 2022 rookies offered plenty of promise. Here’s hoping for more of the same in April.

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Saints could correct a draft-day mistake by trading for Jets WR Elijah Moore

The Saints could correct a draft-day mistake by trading for Jets WR Elijah Moore. NFL Network reports the second-year pro has requested a trade:

Who says you don’t get second chances? NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that New York Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore has requested a trade after a frustrating start to his career, presenting the New Orleans Saints with a golden opportunity to correct their draft-day mistake in passing on him last year. Rapoport adds that Moore has grown “frustrated with his role and usage” in New York’s offense, with the lack of development from quarterback Zach Wilson taking a toll on his own young career.

It’s understandable that he’d like a change of scenery. He’d do better in a different offense that puts him in a position to win. Even if the Saints aren’t exactly thriving at quarterback, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael has a ton of experience doing just that, and Moore would fit in well with New Orleans (and just about any other offense around the league).

The Saints should have drafted Moore in the first round last year instead of reaching on pass rusher Payton Turner, who missed most of his rookie season with an injury and has been buried in the rotation — at times falling so far down the depth chart that he’s been inactive even when healthy. It’s possible he develops further down the line and takes over for Cameron Jordan or Marcus Davenport in a year, but the too-quiet start to his Saints career leaves that looking like a long shot. Right now he’s an afterthought behind guys like Tanoh Kpassagnon and Carl Granderson. Hopefully he proves everyone doubting him wrong.

But let’s circle back to Moore. He was picked just outside the first round at No. 34 overall and has thrived whenever Jets quarterbacks take time to throw to him. He can line up in the slot or outside and get open with ease, and specializes in picking up yards after the catch. It’s unclear how much longer Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry will be sidelined by injuries for New Orleans, but having a young talent like Moore in the building would do a lot to replenish the depth chart and make it easier to evaluate their contract situations in the spring (Landry will be an unrestricted free agent; Thomas carries a whopping $28.2 million salary cap hit).

So getting Moore now would make that transition easier. It’s one of several reasons the Saints should have drafted him last year instead of Turner, but the past is in the past. Now the Saints have a chance to fix that mistake, get Moore in the building, and go to work. Moore, 22, would only count about $866,000 against the salary cap if a team like the Saints traded for him right now. His 2023 cap hit clocks in a little over $2.4 million, climbing to $2.8 million in 2024. That’s ridiculously affordable and fits what teams flirting with the salary cap (again, like the Saints) should be looking for ahead of the Nov. 2 NFL trade deadline.

What about the cost to acquire him? Maybe the Jets could be talked into sending out their former second round pick in exchange for a future second rounder. Maybe New York graded Turner well going into the 2021 draft, in which case the Saints could try and do a simpler swap with some picks to sweeten the deal. That’s probably unrealistic, but you never know. The Jets signed Saints defenders like Sheldon Rankins, Kwon Alexander, and Justin Hardee Sr. in free agency, so they clearly share some common values that New Orleans is using to find personnel. It’s worth a shot.

But at the end of the day I just don’t see anything developing here. The Jets have no incentive to part ways with a talented second-year pro. The Saints are set at receiver if and when everyone is healthy. In a vacuum, I wouldn’t consider shaking up the receiving corps for nothing. But if you could tell me that the Saints can have Moore behind Thomas, Landry, and Chris Olave this year instead of the likes of Tre’Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway, and Kevin White (as is the case in Thursday night’s game), I’d jump at the opportunity. Knowing the Saints could then replace Thomas or Landry next offseason with Moore only makes that more enticing. Let’s see if the Saints feel the same way.

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Saints have assembled one of the NFL’s oldest rosters

The Saints have assembled one of the NFL’s oldest rosters, but that comes with the expectations of building what they see as a Super Bowl contender:

Is it a problem that the New Orleans Saints have assembled one of the NFL’s oldest rosters? Maybe so, maybe not. Research from the Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski found that New Orleans ranked 29th across the league, with an average age of players on their 53-man roster of 26.8. Only the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranked lower based off initial 53-man lineups.

How’s that the case? New Orleans rostered nine players over the age of 30, including starters like Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis (33) plus Tyran Mathieu and James Hurst (30). Other veterans expected to play often include Mark Ingram II and Taysom Hill (32), as well as Bradley Roby (30). There a couple of 30-plus backups, too, in Andy Dalton (34, eldest on the team) and Daniel Sorensen (32). They didn’t factor into this exercise, but two players on the practice squad also passed that threshold — Josh Andrews (31) and Christian Ringo (30).

But don’t panic. Last year, the Saints clocked in at No. 22 with an average age of 26.0. And generally speaking the youngest teams have an average age of 25.0 at the lowest, while the oldest clock in around 27.0. There isn’t that great of a difference between the youngest and eldest squads around the league. As is often the case in this league, what matters is the talent of the players in uniform, not how long they’ve been wearing their jerseys.

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Alabama, Nick Saban agree on contract extension through 2030 with added salary increase

Nick Saban and Alabama have agreed to continue their relationship through the 2030 college football season with an added pay increase for the head coach. He will be 79 when the deal expires.

Nick Saban is entering season No. 15 as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program. Though there are constant questions regarding his imminent retirement, there should be one answer: not anytime soon.

It was revealed that Alabama and Saban agreed on a contract extension that will run through the 2030 season and a pay increase that will once again make him the highest-earning coach in all of college football. This results in Saban dethroning Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who recently became the highest-paid coach, but he now sits at No. 2, just behind Saban.

The seven-time collegiate national championship-winning head coach will earn $11.7 million per year.

Saban will turn 71 years old during the 2022 season, and he will be 79 when this new contract expires.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover Alabama football as the 2022 college football season gets underway.

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Which first-round prospects meet Packers’ athleticism and age tendencies?

Highlighting which top prospects in the 2022 draft meet the Packers’ tendencies in the first round on age and athleticism.

We have only four years of draft data on Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, but a clear trend has emerged within his five first-round draft picks. Gutekunst likes his first-rounders to be both young and elite athletically.

Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, Darnell Savage, Jordan Love and Eric Stokes have all been 22 years old or younger with a Relative Athletic Score of at least 8.0. Four of the five picks were 21 years old; three of the five had a RAS of 9.0 or higher.

It’s not hard to ascertain why Gutekunst and the Packers would target the youngest and best athletes. Younger first-round talents likely dominated the college level at a young age. And elite athleticism is typically a foundational trait of the league’s best players. Mix the two ideas together, and the Packers are probably maximizing the chances of hitting on a top player in the first round.

Year Player Age RAS
2018 Jaire Alexander 21 9.54
2019 Rashan Gary 21 9.95
2019 Darnell Savage 21 8.35
2020 Jordan Love 21 8.46
2021 Eric Stokes 22 9.38

So which likely first-round picks fit the Packers’ age and athleticism tendencies? Let’s take a closer look.

Like it or not, Saints are riding the downslope of Cameron Jordan’s career

Like it or not, Saints are riding the downslope of Cameron Jordan’s career:

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It’s becoming increasingly clear that Cameron Jordan will remain second-best in the New Orleans Saints record books for career sacks. He’s racked up 94.5 takedowns in his long career in black and gold, but he hasn’t found a single sack through the first four games of 2021.

He’s still getting pressures; his 18 defensive pressures rank eighth-most among all defensive linemen, but it’s more a product of him rarely leaving the field. Just five of his peers have seen more snaps (Shaquil Barrett, Aaron Donald, Leonard Floyd, Chase Young, and Sam Hubbard) than he has this season. His pass rush productivity rating from Pro Football Focus is just 6.2, 29th among linemen who have taken 100-plus reps.

Pressures are fine in the same way that popcorn is fine. They’re both empty calories that don’t leave you satisfied. Sacks are one of the most impactful plays a defender can make, between the loss of yards and the very physical rattling it puts on a quarterback. In 2017, Football Outsiders found that just 16% of possessions including a sack went on to find a first down or touchdown. You can pressure a quarterback and still end up with him completing a pass for a big gain.

And we aren’t getting enough of those impact plays from Jordan. His current sacks draught stretches back to Week 16 of last season, when he got just one sack against Kirk Cousins. Then you’ll see three more games without a sack until he got one in that farce of a game with the quarterback-less Broncos. Three of the eight sacks he got last year came in one game with the Falcons, which, at least he picked a high-stakes rivalry game to do it in.

Maybe this is just who Jordan is now. He’s closing in on 10,000 snaps played in the NFL (he’s probably already there; public tracking only goes back to 2012, a year after he entered the league, and Jordan is up to 9,931 snaps on defense and special teams in the regular season and playoffs) and that puts tremendous wear and tear on his body. It makes sense that he’s slowing down and becoming less effective as he ages.

It’s just a shame that the players brought in to replace him haven’t been up to the task. First-round draft picks Marcus Davenport and Payton Turner, and even underrated free agent pickup Tanoh Kpassagnon, have missed time with injuries. Carl Granderson is throwing a lot of spin moves at opposing blockers with little success. Until everyone is healthy and firing on all cylinders, the Saints are stuck in a tough spot by asking a top-30 defensive end to handle a top-5 player’s workload.

That doesn’t mean Jordan is washed up and can’t play. Far from it. He’s a very good run defender and a complimentary pass rusher. He can help almost any defense in this league, which should make him an attractive trade piece next summer when he’s 33 and counting $22.6 million against the salary cap, the fourth-largest cap hit on the team. Only Marshon Lattimore ($27.4 million) and Ryam Ramczyk ($22.8 million) are ahead, but their recent contract extensions were designed with restructures in mind. Michael Thomas ($24.7 million) is also in the mix.

Cutting or trading Jordan early in the offseason won’t be an option; it only saves $1.4 million while leaving a $21.4 million dead money on the books. But doing so after June 1 will create $14.7 million in savings. There’s still an $8.1 million dead money charge in 2022 weighing in, but the bulk of the cap penalties doesn’t factor in until 2023 ($13.2 million, coinciding with a huge rise in the salary cap with new media deals money flooding in, making it more manageable).

There’s still time for Jordan to turn it around. If he starts finishing those plays better and stacking up more sacks instead of hits or hurries, maybe the Saints consider another restructure (saving $8.5 million) or extension in the future so he can finish his career in black and gold. We haven’t seen the defensive line at full strength yet and Jordan should benefit once Davenport and David Onyemata return. Right now he just hasn’t justified his contract.

We just can’t ignore the possibility that Jordan is nearing the end of the line. He’s been everything the Saints could have hoped for when they drafted him way back in 2011. He’s a Pro Bowl regular, a team captain, and a face of the franchise. Seeing him play for another team would be really tough. Losing both him and star left tackle Terron Armstead in the same offseason would be even more difficult. But the post-Drew Brees era in New Orleans is going to be full of changes and tough decisions, and fans should start making their peace with it sooner rather than later.

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