Tag: Bub Means

Lions WR Tim Patrick says Saints tried to trade for him before Broncos cut him

Tim Patrick, the Lions’ newest wide receiver, says the Saints tried to trade for him before the Broncos cut him:

The final week of the preseason is a busy time full of trade talks and tough decisions ahead of roster cuts, but some deals are discussed without ever coming to fruition. That was the case for Tim Patrick. The Detroit Lions’ newest wide receiver was let go by the Denver Broncos, but he nearly became a member of the New Orleans Saints. Sean Payton has worked often with his former team over the last year so this isn’t too surprising.

Patrick told the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett that the Broncos were negotiating a trade with the Saints before roster cuts but couldn’t agree to terms, so they decided to release Patrick and let him choose his next team.

He would’ve been a good get. Patrick did miss the 2022 and 2023 seasons with injuries but he remained a popular player in the locker room, and his resume speaks for itself. He would’ve been one of the best-accomplished receivers in New Orleans. His 143 receptions for 2,009 yards and 101 first down conversions are more than every wideout on the roster after Chris Olave.

What could a trade have looked like? Maybe the Saints approached Denver with a pick-swap in mind. The same day Patrick was released they cut a deal with the Washington Commanders to acquire defensive tackle John Ridgeway III, exchanging a sixth-round pick for a seventh rounder in 2025. Something is better than nothing, but in this case the decisionmakers in Denver decided goodwill with Patrick and his fans was worth more than a draft pick or some other compensation.

As for the Saints? Right now they have rostered Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Cedrick Wilson Jr., A.T. Perry, Bub Means, and Mason Tipton with Equanimeous St. Brown and Kevin Austin Jr. on the practice squad. They tried out a couple of free agents but didn’t sign any of them, so they clearly do want more help at wide receiver. We’ll just have to wait and see whether they make another move.

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WATCH: Derek Carr hits rookie Bub Means to convert big 4th down vs. 49ers

Derek Carr hit rookie wideout Bub Means to convert a big fourth down against the 49ers. It’s a big step in the right direction for a team that needed it:

The New Orleans Saints’ first-team offense finally found some life after a couple of underwhelming drives to start their second preseason game. On 4th-and-5 from the San Francisco 49eres’ 38-yard line, the team dialed up a spot concept to find rookie wideout Bub Means for a big conversion. This conversion led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Taysom Hill to cap off a 16-play drive, putting them up by 7 points  at Levi’s Stadium.

This was a great sign for the team finally seeing Means in action after he missed time in training camp with an injury. The Saints are in need of more playmakers at the wide receiver position and it would be beneficial for the team if Means was part of the solution there. Carr having the trust to hit Means on this play goes a long way as well. It’s an encouraging moment for the exciting rookie from Pitt.

Capitalizing on later downs is something that the team has struggled with as of late. If they can sustain drives and find success on crucial downs, it will go a long way to making Klint Kubiak’s offense go this season. It is also a positive that they were able to get this done against one of the best defensive schemes in football. This was a big step in the right direction for a team that needed to see it.

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Multiple wide receivers, including Rashid Shaheed, return to Saints practice

Three Saints wide receivers returned to practice on Sunday after missing time with various injuries, including Rashid Shaheed:

The New Orleans Saints have dealt with various injuries at the wide receiver position throughout the offseason, and the position was relatively unimpressive during their first preseason matchup aside from A.T. Perry and Samson Nacua.

However, they may be getting some players back sooner rather than later, as Rashid Shaheed, Bub Means, and Equanimeous St. Brown all returned to practice today. According to Locked On Network’s Ross Jackson, the three returned to practice today, however, they did not participate in team drills.

These three returning is an extremely good sign, as all three have missed practice for significant amounts of time, with their injuries occurring on:

  • Equanimeous St. Brown: Jul. 30
  • Bub Means: Jul. 31
  • Rashid Shaheed: Aug. 3

Out of the 15 players who missed the preseason Week 1 game for the Saints, it is great to be getting many of them back before their next matchup to get them warmed up, or in the case of Means and St. Brown, see what they have. In addition to these three, Mason Tipton was also observed to be on the sideline as well, who would be nice to see in preseason after having a standout camp. We will see how they each progress through the week, but this is a great start overall.

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After series of injuries, Saints bring back a familiar face at wide receiver

The New Orleans Saints re-signed Marquez Callaway amid a series of injuries at wide receiver. He’s back for his third stint with the team:

The New Orleans Saints announced a couple of roster moves on Thursday, most notably that they had re-signed Marquez Callaway. His return comes amid a series of injuries at wide receiver. Veteran wideouts Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Equanimeous St. Brown as well as rookie draft pick Bub Means missed Wednesday’s practice after getting banged up. The Saints needed to restock.

And so Callaway is back for his third stint with the team, his first try in Klint Kubiak’s offense. The Saints chose to let him reach free agency after his practice squad contract expired back in January, and he initially signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they let him go on Tuesday.

Callaway first joined the Saints as a rookie free agent out of Tennessee, helping out in the return game and playing a bit part on offense in 2020. He broke out with 46 catches for 698 yards in 2021, scoring six touchdown receptions, but he hasn’t returned to those heights. In the meantime he’s followed Sean Payton to the Denver Broncos and tried out in Pittsburgh (as well as with the Las Vegas Raiders last summer).

The Saints also waived backup tight end Tommy Hudson with an injury designation to make room for Callaway. He’s likely headed for injured reserve should he clear waivers. Juwan Johnson, the starter, is still on the physically unable to perform list leaving Foster Moreau and Dallin Holker to handle most of the snaps in passing drills.

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Rookie Bub Means activated from non-football injury list

That didn’t take long. Bub Means has already been removed from the NFI list, freeing up the rookie for a full workload at training camp:

Just two days ago the New Orleans Saints placed rookie fifth-round pick Bub Means on the non-football injury list.

As of Thursday, he is now off of that list. The Saints announced that Means had been activated off the NFI list along with several other roster moves that the team made. Just a couple days ago, Nick Underhill at NOF Network reported that Means’ injury “wasn’t serious” and that he would be “good to go quickly.” Here’s proof of it.

The former Pitt Panther will be in competition for a spot at the back end of the wide receivers depth chart. With Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed locking up the top two spots, Means will be competing for playing time with guys like Cedrick Wilson Jr. and A.T. Perry who have the head start on him for the moment.

With the start of training camp in about a week, Means will get his opportunity to showcase his abilities and make a name for himself.

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Bub Means starts Saints training camp on non-football injury list

Bub Means is starting his first Saints training camp on the non-football injury list, but he shouldn’t be sidelined for long:

At least one New Orleans Saints player is starting training camp on an injury list. Rookie wide receiver Bub Means was designated to the non-football injury on Tuesday, per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill and the Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Luke Johnson. Underhill added that Means’ injury “isn’t considered to be serious” and he’s expected to be cleared when the team undergoes its annual conditioning test on July 23. The first real day of practice is July 24.

Means was drafted in the fifth round this year out of Pittsburgh, at No. 170 overall. He’s an exciting talent with a lot of personality so fans were quick to gravitate to him during the spring. But what is the NFI list? How is it different from the physically unable to perform list (PUP) or injured reserve?

It’s important to not overreact to this. Means landing on NFI when rookies reported for training camp on Tuesday is nothing unusual. Any players who suffered an injury working out during the offseason or in an off-field accident would also start out here. Once they can pass a conditioning test they’ll be activated and cleared to practice. In the meantime, though, they aren’t paid a regular salary. But that usually only matters if an injury persists into the season in September. It doesn’t sound like that’s likely for Means.

Remember, Rashid Shaheed was placed on the NFI list his first day at training camp back in 2022, and he wasn’t activated until Aug. 8. Things have worked out well for him, and Means seems to be in a much better situation than he was coming off a serious knee injury his rookie year. We’ll keep an eye out for Means’ progress but he has a full week to heal up and get the green light to hit the practice field. Stay tuned.

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Rookie WR Bub Means tabbed as Saints’ sleeper pick from 2024 draft

Who is your pick for the Saints’ sleeper in the 2024 draft class? Touchdown Wire says this wideout could get on the field very quickly:

Who would you say was the sleeper pick of the New Orleans Saints’ 2024 draft class, who could climb the depth chart and help out on game days? With the Saints spending so many of their 2025 draft picks on Day 3, in the later rounds, there are plenty of options to choose from. There will be many rookies starting at the bottom of the roster and working to make their own luck.

But some have landed in better circumstances than others, with a real path to dressing out and making plays on game days. According to Doug Farrar over at Touchdown Wire, that’s former Pittsburgh Panthers wideout Bub Means:

The Saints came into the 2024 draft with some speed on offense already with Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and A.T. Perry, but in an NFL where it’s all about creating and defending explosive plays, more acceleration is always good. To that end, New Orleans welcomed Pitt receiver Bub Means to its roster with the 170th overall pick in the fifth round.

In his 2023 season, Means caught 41 passes on 82 targets for 718 yards and six touchdowns. That catch rate may have you wondering about Means’ hands until you go back and review Pitt’s quarterbacks. As Greg Cosell and I got into in this week’s “Xs and Os,” Means is virtually guaranteed to be more productive and efficient with a quarterback who can actually get him the ball.

Means is an easy player to root for, as we found out in an exclusive interview with our own Jeremy Trottier. He’s got a dynamic skill set, a team-first mindset, and a magnetic personality that should quickly endear him to Saints fans. Of course there are things he needs to work on in order to get on the field ahead of more-experienced teammates like A.T. Perry and Cedrick Wilson Jr., but he’s got plenty of potential. Now it’s on Klint Kubiak and his new Saints offensive coaching staff to help Means meet it.

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The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Our favorite draft picks (mostly) outside the first round

In this week’s “Xs and Os,” Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar get into their favorite draft picks (mostly) outside of the first round.

Now that the 2024 NFL draft is in the books, which players who were not selected in the first round have the best chances to make real impacts on their new NFL teams? In this episode of “The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell,” Greg and Doug Farrar get into their favorite guys mostly outside of the first round.

Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers — We’re cheating a bit here, as Pearsall was selected with the 31st overall pick, but if the 49ers keep both Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on the roster, Pearsall can impact the passing game in ways that his new teammates will find complementary, and in ways that bring new colors to Kyle Shanahan’s playbook. Also, watch out for fourth-round receiver Jacob Cowing from Arizona as a smaller speed element.

Renardo Green, CB, San Francisco 49ers — On the defensive side, and with the 64th overall pick in the second round, the 49ers got a cornerback who showed all the athleticism and coverage skills you want at the position, and brings an absolute dawg mentality. You need look no further than Green’s tape against LSU’s Malik Nabers.

Marshawn Kneeland, DL, Dallas Cowboys — The Cowboys’ scouting staff is one of the NFL’s best, and with the 56th overall pick in the second round, Dallas picked up the Western Michigan and Senior Bowl star, who brings Khalil Mack to mind with his power-based rush, and Za’Darius Smith to mind with his effective gap versatility.

Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins — Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but the Dolphins got a receiver who’s really fast in some really interesting ways. Washington, the Virginia receiver who Miami stole with the 184th overall pick in the sixth round, brings an exciting, physical style that puts defenses in severe conflict when those defenses also have to deal with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Cole Bishop, S, Buffalo Bills — The Bills’ former secondary got old overnight, and a re-do is now necessary. Bishop, the Utah star, is a prefect safety with which to rebuild because he can do just about everything at a high level.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis Colts — Mitchell showed at Texas that he has first-round talent, and if he can put it together with the nuances of the position, he’ll give the Colts the alpha receiver that seems to be the only thing this offense was missing. Not bad for the 52nd overall pick in the second round.

Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — McMillan may have been the lost member of the Washington receiver group from a production standpoint due to injury in 2023 (which is how the Bucs were able to get him with the 92nd overall pick in the third round), but the tape shows a valuable deep receiver who can expertly dice zone coverage downfield.

Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals — At Florida State, Benson showed the ability to run with power like a bigger man, and to evade tackles with the agility of a smaller back. The Cardinals selected Benson with the 66th overall pick in the third round, and they’ll likely avail themselves of Benson’s special skill set sooner than later.

Bub Means, WR, New Orleans Saints — At Pitt, Means displayed the ability to be a fantastic deep receiver despite a trio of quarterbacks who really struggled to do anything. Odds are, the Saints got a receiver with the 170th pick in the fifth round who can be even better in the NFL — all he needs is functional quarterback play to turn it loose.

You can watch this week’s edition of “The Xs and Os” right here:

You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

Undrafted Saints WR Kyle Sheets picked as an instant-impact rookie

Undrafted Saints wide receiver Kyle Sheets picked as an instant-impact rookie. Making the leap to the NFL from Slippery Rock won’t be easy, but he might be special:

The New Orleans Saints have been busy in undrafted free agency as they try to find a hidden gem that can make the roster. They have a thin wide receiver room this year so the door could open for someone new to earn a roster spot.

For Touchdown Wire’s Jarrett Bailey, the player that could make an immediate impact is Slippery Rock’s Kyle Sheets:

Alright, let’s talk some Division-II studs, and not just because Sheets and I share an alma mater. The dynamic receiver out of Slippery Rock caught 76 passes for 1,186 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023, including a 12 catch, 210 yard performance with three touchdowns against Millersville.

Sheets is one of several rookie wideouts the Saints signed after the 2024 NFL draft along with Jermaine Jackson (Idaho) and Mason Tipton (Yale). But his biggest competition may be fifth-round draft pick Bub Means (Pitt) and veteran journeyman Equanimeous St. Brown, who signed with the Saints just before the 2024 NFL draft. Any of those receivers could be catching passes from Derek Carr next season. Seeing who emerges from the pack will be one of the more entertaining storylines at Saints training camp this summer.

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Setting realistic expectations for Saints rookie WR Bub Means

What are the rookie year expectations for New Orleans Saints WR Bub Means? He could carve out a role for himself in Klint Kubiak’s offense:

The New Orleans Saints decided to pull the trigger on adding to the wide receiver room with Pittsburgh wideout Bub Means with the No. 170 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft.

Means was an intriguing option to be their young wide receiver, as he does a lot of the same things as Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed on paper. He has a good size and speed combination that led to him being a deep threat in college as he averaged 16.5 yards per catch in his three seasons.

In the Klint Kubiak offense, though, he might have a different role. He’ll need to improve as a route runner, but his 6-foot-1 and 212-pound frame screams Kyle Shanahan offensive weapon. If he can block well on running plays, Kubiak will likely find some playing time for him in a rotational role. That role could grow as he grows as a player, but he’s pretty raw before the catch.

As rookie, expect to see him play a lot of special teams. He’ll be a project player, but he checks all of the boxes that you could ask for in a late-round wide receiver flier. Maybe the Saints could have walked away with someone that could find more playing time right away in the passing game, but Means seems more up their alley.

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