Saints free agent report card: Was Johnathan Abram a good veteran signing?

Saints free agent report card: Was Johnathan Abram a good veteran signing?

The New Orleans Saints defense had an up-and-down season in 2023, but they found some smooth sailing in the latter half of the season. A lot of that had to do with some veterans stepping up and performing well

One of the players that broke out in the second half of the season was veteran safety Johnathan Abram, who spent the first half of the year on the practice squad.

To wrap up the series for last season’s most impactful free agent signings (we previously discussed Foster Moreau, Jamaal Williams, Nathan Shepherd, and Khalen Saunders), here is Abram’s 2023 report card:

Saints free agent report card: Was Khalen Saunders a good defensive signing?

Our next New Orleans Saints free agent report card: Was Khalen Saunders a good defensive signing from the Kansas City Chiefs?

The New Orleans Saints retooled their defensive line last season, replacing most of the players that were roster in 2022. They lost Shy Tuttle and David Onyemata to big contracts within the NFC South with other players leaving the rotation like Kentavius Street, but were they able to replace them with some other nice players on the inside.

One of the players they brought in was former Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Khalen Saunders. Saunders became an immediate fan favorite due to his athletic ceiling made apparent by his viral front-flip ability.

It’s time for the next free agency report card as we keep this series going and evaluate his first season in black and gold, just as we did with fellow defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd. Here’s Saunders’ 2023 report card:

Saints free agent report card: Was Nathan Shepherd a good veteran signing?

Our next New Orleans Saints 2023 free agent report card: Was Nathan Shepherd a good veteran signing at defensive tackle?

Few positions looked as different last season compared to the year before as the New Orleans Saints’ defensive tackles. With their position coach leaving for a promotion, the Saints allowed the entire group to test free agency while bringing in veteran replacements and spending their top draft pick on a new centerpiece.

So how did they perform individually? We’re keeping our 2023 Saints free agent report card series going after reviewing Foster Moreau and Jamaal Williams. Which leads us to the next question: was Nathan Shepherd a good veteran signing at defensive tackle?

Saints free agent report card: Was Foster Moreau a good veteran signing?

Our New Orleans Saints free agent report card series continues with Foster Moreau. Was signing the veteran tight end a good move?

There weren’t many outside observers expecting the New Orleans Saints to be active in free agency last season, but they were able to add veterans at positions of need like Foster Moreau.

And it made a lot of sense to sign him: Moreau was a favorite target of Derek Carr’s when they were together on the Las Vegas Raiders, he added some much-needed experience to the tight end position, and he was popular among fans as a New Orleans local who played college football at LSU.

But that’s all behind us now. It’s time to keep this series going and evaluate his first season in black and gold, just as we did with running back Jamaal Williams. Here’s Moreau’s 2023 report card:

Saints free agent report card: Was Jamaal Williams a good veteran signing?

We’re kicking off our New Orleans Saints free agent report cards with Jamaal Williams. The veteran running back didn’t meet expectations in 2023:

We’re kicking off our New Orleans Saints free agent report cards with Jamaal Williams. The veteran running back didn’t meet expectations in 2023 after being heralded as an ideal tag-team partner for Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill. Here’s a look back at his first season in New Orleans, his contract status, and what’s next for him:

Leo Chenal led Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII with 92.0 PFF grade

Second-year linebacker Leo Chenal was the #Chiefs’ top graded player in Super Bowl LVIII, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Kansas City Chiefs relied on their depth to win Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers, and one second-year linebacker stood out above the rest to Pro Football Focus when their analysts took a look at the film from the game.

Leo Chenal, who served the Chiefs well all season, played the best game of his life on the NFL’s biggest stage, earning a 92.0 grade from PFF for his efforts against the 49ers.

Chenal’s outstanding performance proved to be the difference for Kansas City in their effort to win a third Super Bowl ring. The budding young linebacker helped force a fumble on the game’s third drive and blocked an extra point late in the contest that helped the Chiefs push the game to overtime.

While he didn’t earn MVP honors for his amazing showing against San Francisco, Chenal’s incredible play won’t soon be forgotten by Kansas City’s fans, who will forever remember him as a difference-maker in a legendary Super Bowl.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes earned exceptional PFF grade for performance vs. Dolphins

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was PFF’s third-highest graded quarterback in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Patrick Mahomes had an up-and-down regular season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023 but got off to an excellent start in the playoffs by beating the Miami Dolphins in a brutally cold Wild Card matchup at Arrowhead Stadium.

The reigning MVP got Kansas City’s offense in gear by throwing for 262 yards and a touchdown, but perhaps the most impressive part of his outstanding performance was the 42 rushing yards he accumulated.

For his efforts against Miami, Mahomes earned an 88.0 grade from Pro Football Focus, which tied for third place among quarterbacks in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Coincidentally, Mahomes’ running mate in the third spot was Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who the Chiefs will visit in Orchard Park, New York this weekend.

Kansas City’s gritty win against the Dolphins was a masterclass in toughness, tenacity, and effort. With another difficult matchup on the horizon, the Chiefs will need Mahomes to put together an equally gritty performance to get Kansas City into the AFC Championship game later in January.

Chiefs Joe Thuney ended regular season as NFL’s best pass blocking guard

#Chiefs lineman Joe Thuney ended the 2023 regular season as the NFL’s best pass-blocking guard, according to Pro Football Focus.

The play of the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line has been crucial to Patrick Mahomes’ success in recent years, and the efforts of one lineman, in particular, have garnered some serious attention from the experts at Pro Football Focus.

Veteran guard Joe Thuney ended the 2023 regular season with the best pass-blocking grade of any player at his position in the NFL, according to the analytics company.

Thuney’s exceptional prowess up front has been a boon for the Chiefs, and without his presence, Kansas City’s front-five wouldn’t be nearly as dominant.

The savvy that Thuney has shown throughout the Chiefs’ 17 regular season games often goes unnoticed, but with the playoffs just days away, his remarkable talent in the trenches will be on full display to a national audience.

Expect Thuney to have a field day in the Wild Card round of the AFC playoffs as he fends off the Miami Dolphins’ depleted pass rush.

PFF’s highest graded offensive players in the 2023 College Football Playoffs

Which offensive players will have the biggest impact in CFP semi-final games?

In the 10 years of the four-team College Football Playoffs, we’ve never had a field more competitive than in 2023. The Alabama Crimson Tide are the only of the four participants this season to have ever won a Playoff game with Michigan being 0-2, Washington 0-1 and Texas having no prior trips.

The main reason that all of these teams have been successful is because of the guys playing the quarterback position. PFF College ranked the top ten offensive players in this year’s Playoffs, and the top three were all quarterbacks. Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers entered the list at No. 8.

As for the Crimson Tide, they have three players ranked in the top ten. Jalen Milroe is ranked at No. 3, Jermaine Burton No. 8 and JC Latham No. 10. Interestingly, every team has three players on the list except Texas whose lone representative is Ewers.

With Michigan’s Blake Corum the lone runningback on the list, it will be a very pass-happy New Year’s day. However, I expect Jalen Milroe’s legs to be the biggest difference X-factor between all four teams. I’m excited to see what the Alabama coaching staff has up their sleeve.

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Lions Brian Branch graded as highest rookie DB in Week 16

PFF grades Brain Branch as the top rookie DB from Week 16 of the NFL season

A lot of people, myself included, were shocked when former Alabama DB [autotag]Brian Branch[/autotag] fell to the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions finally took Branch off the board with the No. 45 overall pick, where he has been outstanding for them as a rookie. In 13 games, Branch has totaled 69 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, three interceptions and 10 passes broken up.

It had been 30 yards since the Detroit Lions had last won the NFC North, but they finally snapped the streak with a division-clinching win over Minnesota on Sunday. Branch and the Lions’ defense have been a massive factor in finally getting back to the top of the division despite all of the attention that goes to Detroit’s high-flying offense.

Branch was exceptional on Sunday as he tallied six tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, an interception and two passes broken up. For his remarkable efforts, PFF graded Branch as the highest rookie DB in Week 16. It is already beginning to look like Branch will be a corner stone piece for Dan Campbel’s defense for years to come.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.