Tag: bleacher report

B/R picks three very different Saints quarterbacks as comparisons for Bo Nix

Bleacher Report picked three very different New Orleans Saints quarterbacks as pro comparisons for Oregon draft prospect Bo Nix:

You won’t find Derek Carr, Andy Dalton, and Drew Brees mentioned in the same conversation too often, but that’s where we found ourselves here. Bleacher Report’s Derrick Klassen shared his scouting report on Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, a prospect in the 2024 NFL draft, and offered a couple of different pro comparisons for Nix: Carr, Dalton, and Brees.

Incidentally, all three of them have played for the New Orleans Saints. And that’s where this comparison falls apart. Brees of course accomplished a Pro Football Hall of Fame-worthy career in black and gold. Dalton spent a single year in New Orleans, having been signed to back up Jameis Winston before being given the starting job, and he ended that season with the worst offensive output the Saints had seen in decades. The jury is still out on Carr, but the early returns aren’t good.

Still, we’re missing the forest for the trees here. Klassen’s greater point is that Nix should be seen as a high-end backup who should probably be picked early in the second round of this year’s draft. That’s where Brees (drafted with the first pick of the second round), Dalton (the third pick in the second round), and Carr (the fourth pick in the second round) all went off the board. While Dalton and Carr both started as rookies, Brees didn’t, though it’s worth noting he played in a different era that took a more patient approach to young quarterbacks.

So does this mean Nix could end up wearing black and gold in New Orleans, too? Probably not this year. If he’s projected to be picked before the Saints go on the clock at No. 45 overall, he probably won’t make it to them. At the same time the Saints have been seen as a possibility to draft him. Quarterback is low on their list of needs but if they believe Nix has a chance at supplanting Carr in the next year or two, it shouldn’t shock anyone if they draft him.

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B/R writer argues Saints should trade down in 2024, stockpile draft picks for 2025

The Saints don’t typically trade down, but Bleacher Report argues they should break the mold to stockpile picks for next year’s draft:

As the New Orleans Saints finish preparing for the 2024 NFL draft, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay argues the Saints should deviate from their norm and trade down to stockpile 2025 draft picks. Kay doesn’t believe the Saints are in a position to succeed this year, so they should prioritize the future and start padding out their war chest for 2025.

Here’s what Kay had to support the case for trading down and laying the groundwork to move on from Derek Carr:

The New Orleans Saints have been stuck in NFL purgatory since the retirement of Drew Brees following the 2020 season. The team has gone 25-26 in that span, never finishing worse than 7-10 and never better than 9-8—including last year when it posted that record and earned the No. 14 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

That draft position isn’t ideal for a team that is becoming desperate to find a proper heir to Brees’ throne. After striking out with the likes of Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill, the front office attempted to take another veteran shortcut by signing Derek Carr last year.

Carr is a four-time Pro Bowler, but he isn’t the right man to lead the Saints back to relevance. Even after a bounce-back 2023 season that saw him throw for 3,878 yards and 25 touchdowns with only eight interceptions, Carr still failed to take New Orleans to the playoffs. After a decade in the NFL, the 33-year-old has played in only two postseason games.

The Saints have to find a way to acquire a high-upside rookie who can eventually take over under center. It’s likely too pricy for the club to maneuver up the board this year—teams have been seeking a “historic haul” to trade out from the top spots—but it’s possible the Saints could put themselves in a better position to land the right prospect by trading back.

New Orleans’ brass shouldn’t shy away from a move down into the latter portion of the first round this year, a spot where it could try rolling the dice on Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. at a spot that makes more sense than No. 14.

The Saints would be wise to accept a package including 2025 picks as part of any trade back, giving the team a bigger influx of talent for a season in which their 2024 rookie prospect should be ready to usurp Carr as the starter.

This isn’t going to happen. For one, the Saints notoriously do not trade back under general manager Mickey Loomis, instead opting to be aggressors in the draft while looking to move higher. If they do trade down, it’ll likely be for compensation in this year’s draft. Also, New Orleans is unlikely to grab a replacement for Carr in the form of a high profile quarterback. Maybe they draft a guy on Day 3, or the right guy will have to fall in their lap.

The fundamental different between Kay and the Saints is the belief in Carr. They aren’t actively searching for the new franchise quarterback. Carr is believed to be that for at least the short term future. It would be surprising to see the Saints identify and select a player this year they know will set up an inevitable departure for Carr.

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Bleacher Report’s mock draft has a disastrous pick for the Saints

The Saints made a disastrous pick in Bleacher Report’s new mock draft, bypassing all of their biggest needs. It’s a bad move even if he’s a great player:

It’s finally here: April brings us to the final stretch before the 2024 NFL draft, and mock drafts are picking up. Some of them are keying in on the New Orleans Saints’ top team needs and draft-day priorities. Others are exploring different scenarios with picks that may seem like a luxury, at best, or a crippling mistake, at worst.

This projection from Bleacher Report’s scouting department falls closer to the lower end of the spectrum. B/R/ has the New Orleans Saints bypassing their worst vulnerabilities along the offensive line, defensive end, and at the skills positions to splurge on a new cornerback. Alabama star Terrion Arnold is a great player, but he wouldn’t solve many of the Saints’ biggest problems. We’ll let B/R’s team explain why they went with this pick.

“Arnold is a versatile cornerback with a high football IQ to play in multiple schemes. When Lattimore went on injured reserve in the middle of the season, it showed the lack of depth in the Saints’ cornerback room,” wrote B/R scout Cory Giddings, referring to games in which the Saints allowed 168, 205, 99, and 133 passing yards without Lattimore. He added, “Arnold would also be in line to become CB1 before his rookie contract expires.”

The Los Angeles Rams got the better of New Orleans while throwing for 325 yards, but a top-10 passing offense is going to beat a top-10 passing defense almost every time. The Saints beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons in blowout victories to close out the season in which they were forced to throw more often, accumulating 292 and 311 passing yards but scoring just 13 and 17 points, respectively. New Orleans’ secondary intercepted the Bucs and Falcons twice in each of those games.

A big part of the Saints’ thinking in making Lattimore available for trade was how well their secondary performed without him. Obviously the situation is different now; rumors suggest Lattimore is likely to return for 2024, and the poor trade market for veteran corners means the Saints would be moving him at a loss. They’re a better team with him on the roster, so it doesn’t make sense to trade him or draft his replacement in the first round.

Some players who have been popular picks for the Saints didn’t make it to the 14th overall pick. Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu was snapped up one spot ahead, by the Las Vegas Raiders, with B/R arguing he should learn a new position at right tackle. Alabama right tackle JC Latham, Arnold’s college teammate, was taken a few spots earlier after the Los Angeles Chargers traded out of the top-10.

But others who would make more sense for New Orleans than Arnold were still on the board: guys like Washington left tackle Troy Fautanu (who went to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 16) and Oregon State right tackle Taliese Fuaga (to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 18). To say nothing of UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu, who the Saints have shown plenty of interest in during the pre-draft process.

This isn’t a knock on Arnold. He’s going to be a great pro for some team. If the Saints can make more moves ahead of the draft to reinforce their offensive line with competition for James Hurst at left guard and a better backup plan for Ryan Ramczyk at right tackle, then they could justify the luxury of investing in a high-end cornerback. Paulson Adebo will be a free agent in 2025 and it’s still possible a team makes a strong trade offer for Lattimore later this summer. They should add a corner at some point after losing Isaac Yiadom, Lattimore’s top backup, to the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. But the way things stand right now, targeting Arnold in the first round is a luxury they can’t afford.

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B/R writer sees little cause for quarterback panic from the Saints

Bleacher Report isn’t a believer in Derek Carr, so why do they feel the Saints’ panic level at quarterback is low? What about the rest of the NFC South?

Should New Orleans Saints fans feel panic about their quarterback? Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon broke down how concerned each team should be about their current quarterback situation. The levels on his “Panic Meter” ranged from nonexistent to red alert.

Derek Carr is a polarizing figure among the Who Dat Nation, so answers would vary depending on who you ask. But Gagnon puts the concern at a low level for the Saints, writing:

New Orleans Saints: Low

This rating is mainly because they’re sort of stuck with Derek Carr financially for at least two more years. It could get ugly real soon, though.

The assurance of Carr’s future keeps Gagnon from panicking. If Carr doesn’t deliver this season, the Saints could draft a replacement and sit him at the start of the 2025 season. Derek Carr is not a horrible quarterback. He’s an average quarterback. If New Orleans wants to elevate, he probably won’t be the leader. They could do much worse, but it’s tough to see the Saints doing much better without making big changes.

Logically, Gagnon says the Atlanta Falcons find themselves with the lowest panic level in the division. Kirk Cousins is a solid quarterback and should lead the team for a few years at least. The Carolina Panthers do find themselves with a higher concern level than New Orleans though. Gagnon is already looking at potentially moving on from Bryce Young. And the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are treading water after extending Baker Mayfield. Will all four quarterbacks still be in place this time next year? In two years? Three? We’ll have to wait and see.

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B/R writer suggest Saints should throw in the towel ahead of NFL draft

The one piece of advice Bleacher Report gave to the Saints ahead of the 2024 NFL draft: get ready to give up, go into a rebuild, and start over:

It almost goes without saying by now that the 2024 NFL draft is going to be pivotal for the New Orleans Saints, but it doesn’t hurt to use more examples to drive that point home. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon shared one piece of advice for every team going into this year’s draft, but his take on the Saints’ best path forward isn’t exactly encouraging.

“Be prepared to throw in the towel and start the rebuild,” Gagnon wrote, “because it has to happen eventually and this roster still isn’t good enough.”

As pessimistic as that may sound, let’s address the sentiment with the same level of bluntness. The Saints aren’t far from this being their reality. A year from now the Saints could be in a rebuild wishing they had started it a year early. With the age of Demario Davis (35), Cameron Jordan (34), and Tyrann Mathieu (31), New Orleans could be forced into this at any time. Their defense needs an injection of young talent.

Today is not the day. Dennis Allen has done nothing to afford the luxury of being the Saints’ head coach to lead them through a rebuild. That process should come with a new coach and new quarterback. This is Derek Carr’s second year in black and gold. He’ll get another year to right the ship after the Saints restructured his contract, tying themselves to him tighter.

The Saints can still compete for the NFC South title and aren’t far from being able to win a playoff game. They dismantled the same Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that dismantled the Philadelphia Eagles just a few weeks later. They aren’t competing for any Super Bowls, but they aren’t a bottom-feeder who should throw in the towel. The way their roster is constructed, they couldn’t reboot right now even if they wanted to. The NFC South is still within their reach and that goal will prevent them from throwing in the towel as Gagnon suggests.

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Saints’ Derek Carr, Chris Olave ranked just outside of Top-10 QB-WR duos

Derek Carr and Chris Olave had a rocky first year together, but there’s potential for greatness. B/R ranked them close to the top 10 QB-WR duos:

Where do Derek Carr and Chris Olave rank in the NFL as a duo? The New Orleans Saints’ quarterback and top wide receiver obviously are not on the elite tier with big names like Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase or Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill.

Individually, Carr isn’t in that conversation after a decade in the league, and Olave hasn’t reached that status yet going into his third season. But they have a lot of room to grow together. Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton has the pairing ranked right outside the top 10 as an honorable mention:

Derek Carr had an up-and-down first year with the New Orleans Saints in part because he played through injuries, but the 10-year veteran established a strong rapport with Chris Olave, who caught 87 passes for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns as the focal point of the 11th-ranked passing offense.

Perhaps the Saints offense takes a step in the right direction under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. If it does, look out for Carr and Olave to pick up where they left off in 2023.

That rapport took a while to find. Early in the season there was a clear disconnect between Carr and Olave. Olave’s effort was being questioned which led many to question his feelings towards his quarterback. Carr blowing up on Olave, when Carr was in the wrong, didn’t help matters either. As the season went on, however, they began to get on the same page and seemed to have a better relationship.

It’ll be interesting to see if they hit the ground running this year with a season under their belt. Being an honorable mention is a start. In order to crack the top 10, Olave will likely need to surpass 1,200 yards. Carr is who he is at this point in his career, but the addition of Klint Kubiak is here to elevate the passing attack schematically. As important as the players’ chemistry is, the new offensive coordinator is the most important piece.

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Bleacher Report says Chase Young picked the wrong team

Chase Young was the Saints’ biggest free agency signing, but Bleacher Report says he chose the wrong team:

Chase Young signing with the New Orleans Saints was the team’s biggest splash in free agency, but it didn’t come without some drawbacks. Young needing neck surgery has taken some of the shine away from the signing, however, he remains the biggest name they signed this offseason.

But there are some analysts still criticizing the move. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay says it was a bad decision for both, and that Young picked the wrong team:

“Injuries have been a big part of the Ohio State product’s NFL story thus far and are already derailing the start of his tenure in the Big Easy. While he may have recovered from a career-altering ACL and patellar tendon tear he suffered in 2021, he recently underwent a neck procedure that will keep him sidelined during the leadup to the 2024 season.

Even if New Orleans felt Young is still capable of taking a leap this year, it likely wouldn’t be able to reap the benefits beyond the upcoming season and would struggle to afford his next contract.

The Saints are already projected to be a whopping $69 million over the 2025 salary cap and would be hard-pressed to fit a market-value deal in for Young if he performs at or above a level commensurate with his current pay.

Considering the team isn’t exactly a contender right now—especially with the NFC South race looking much tougher following Kirk Cousins’ decision to join the Atlanta Falcons—this signing doesn’t make sense and doesn’t really benefit either party.”

Kay comes to this conclusion even factoring Young’s neck surgery. Yes, Young is likely a one-year rental. It can be a Band-Aid until next year or maybe it’s security in case the Saints can’t get an edge rusher in the NFL draft. Projecting the future beyond this season for a player on a one year contract feels unfair. Maybe his tone will change when he realizes the contract isn’t fully guaranteed.

But Kay doesn’t explain how Young chose the wrong team, instead focusing on how the Saints chose the wrong player and contract. The Saints aren’t in a position to lay down and give up just because Kirk Cousins makes the NFC South more difficult. Nothing about how the Saints have constructed their roster says to give up on 2024. They aren’t Super Bowl contenders, but they remain in the divisional race. Chase Young was signed to put the best quality on the field this year which is always the goal.

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B/R says hiring Klint Kubiak the Saints’ smartest move this offseason

The Saints tried to jumpstart their offense by hiring Klint Kubiak, and Bleacher Report labels that the smartest move of their offseason:

It’s been a busy offseaseon for the New Orleans Saints, but Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton labels the hiring of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their smartest move so far. Free agency is on the front of many minds, specifically the Saints’ Chase Young signing, but Kubiak is unquestionably the biggest move of the offseason.

Here’s why Moton agrees with that sentiment:

“New Orleans hired Klint Kubiak to replace Pete Carmichael Jr., whose offense moderately improved between 2022 and 2023 but sputtered for stretches last year. The Saints’ offense finished 15th and 18th on third-down conversions and in red-zone scoring, respectively.

After a year as the San Francisco 49ers’ passing-game coordinator, Kubiak may be able to carry over some principles from the Niners’ fourth-ranked passing offense that can help elevate Derek Carr’s production.”

New Orleans’ inconsistent offense was the biggest issue on the team, so it was naturally the paramount question heading into the offseason. The Saints answered that question in the form of a new offensive coordinator. Kubiak must, at the worst, establish consistency on the offensive side of the ball. That alone elevates ceiling of the Saints in 2024.

Improvements on the offense may be more important than last season. The defense is talented and has been carrying the team since Drew Brees retired. The recipe hasn’t resulted in playoff teams. The defense is getting older at pivotal positions, and there’s questions about the younger players. A dropoff could occur at any moment.

The offense remaining stagnant limits the Saints’ ceiling as an above-average team. Chemistry between players should be an issue left in 2023. Now it’s about mastering the offense and Kubiak maximizing the talent.

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Alvin Kamara suggested as a trade candidate during free agency

Alvin Kamara has been called a cap casualty candidate and trade candidate this offseason, but he is a part of the Saints’ 2024 plan:

Alvin Kamara is under siege. Some people want him out of New Orleans. We’ve seen the New Orleans Saints running back suggested as a trade piece to help an AFC contender take down the Kansas City Chiefs, but that was fantasy.

Kamara has more seriously been suggested as a potential salary cap casualty, and the team does need to figure out a solution for the challenges posed by his contract. Now, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport sees Kamara as a surprise trade candidate, writing:

Kamara is coming off a season in which he set a new career low in scrimmage yards. In two of the past three seasons, Kamara has failed to gain four yards per carry. New Orleans spent a Day 2 pick last year on Kendre Miller—ostensibly as Kamara’s successor. And Kamara has reached the point in his career where running backs generally begin to decline.

It’s fully understandable why people would feel New Orleans should move on from Kamara. Most teams are ready to throw away their running backs when they begin to get close to 30 years old. Derrick Henry was released by the Tennessee Titans right after hitting 30. Kendre Miller does seemed poised to replace Kamara if he can stay healthy. Combine the age, drop in production, and heir-apparent on the roster and it’s understandable why Kamara is assumed to be on his way out in New Orleans.

Kamara is still a prominent part of improving the rushing attack. With the introduction of offensive corodinator Klint Kubiak, the Saints running game should be revitalized. Kamara has not been put in a position to succeed over the last couple of seasons. He should and will be given one more season to prove he hasn’t lost it. There isn’t a better system for him to prove that than the Shanahan system Kubiak will be installing.

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Derek Carr’s deal listed among the NFL’s worst contracts

B/R believes Derek Carr has one of the worst contracts in the NFL, with a suggestion for what the Saints should have done last year at QB:

Derek Carr underperformed in his first season with the New Orleans Saints, struggling to hit his stride until the last third of the season — at which point it was too little, too late. The team is hoping for a faster start in 2024 after hiring a new offensive coaching staff aimed at putting Carr in a position to succeed.

Still, his underwhelming first year in New Orleans can’t be overlooked. In response, Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon called Carr’s contract one of the worst in the NFL after the disappointing year.

The bad return: Well in Year 1 with New Orleans, Derek Carr ranked below the league median in QBR for a Saints team that wasn’t particularly competitive at 9-8. And should anyone expect that to change dramatically? The soon-to-be 33-year-old hasn’t been a Pro Bowler since 2017.

The better option: They should have thrown in the towel on 2023 and started from scratch with Will Levis, who was still available when New Orleans selected Bryan Bresee 29th overall in last year’s draft.

It was frustrating to watch Carr in 2023 at times, but his contract is not that bad. He’s ranking 13th around the league in money per year. His 2024 salary cap hit ranks 20th in the league after the Saints restructured his contract a week ago. Carr also ranked 13th in passing yards (3,878), and 10th in touchdown passes (25). The Saints view his performance as right in line with his compensation, though everyone has different standards for what’s acceptable or not.

The Saints’ roster wasn’t at a point to throw in the towel, which rules out getting a rookie quarterback like Will Levis. Carr was disappointing, but to call his contract one of the worst in the league is an overstatement.

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