Tag: Jahri Evans

Saints have two draft classes rank in the top 10 of the century

ESPN ranked the best draft classes of the 21st century, with two historic New Orleans Saints hauls ranking inside the top-10:

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz recently ranked the 12 best draft classes of the 21st century, and the New Orleans Saints made the list twice. Not only is New Orleans on the list twice, they found themselves in the top 10 both times. Their iconic 2017 and 2006 draft classes come in at tenth and first on ESPN’s list.

The 2017 class was the first to make an appearance at tenth overall. The Saints nailed all six of their selections in the first three rounds and those players became foundational pieces for the new era of the New Orleans Saints. Running back Alvin Kamara and cornerback Marshon Lattimore are arguably the best in franchise history at their positions.

The luxury to argue who’s the best player from this class between Kamara, Lattimore and former All-Pro right tackle Ryan Ramczyk is proof of how strong this class is. Free safety Marcus Williams and defensive end Trey Hendrickson were valuable assets before migrating to the AFC North.

However, the 2006 draft class came in as the best draft class of the century. Star running back Reggie Bush, Pro Football Hall of Fame candidate Jahri Evans and forever-underrated wideout Marques Colston were the headliners from the class. Evans has been a Hall of Fame finalist for the past two years and Colston remains one of the most slept-on wide receivers at his position. Safety Roman Harper was also a consistent starter for the Saints, as was right tackle Zach Strief.

The legacy of the 2006 offseason goes beyond just the draft class. Sean Payton and Drew Brees also joined the team that year. This was the beginning of the Saints’ Golden Age.

2006 was a talented year and many teams took advantage of it. The Saints class capped off the list, and the Denver Broncos started the list at No. 12. They selected Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall in this draft. The Cincinnati Bengals made their second appearance on the list at seventh with a class, led by future Hall of Famer and Louisiana native Andrew Whitworth. A lot of teams got better in 2006, but none improved as greatly as the Saints did.

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Saints select a little-known offensive lineman with their final 2024 draft pick

The Saints spent their final pick in the 2024 draft on Eastern Kentucky OT Josiah Ezirim, who Jahri Evans coached at the East-West Shrine Bowl:

The New Orleans Saints spent their final pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Josiah Ezirim, an Eastern Kentucky offensive lineman, who they selected at No. 239 overall. That’s the pick they got back from the Denver Broncos in exchange for Wil Lutz last year. So what’s his story?

Ezirim turns 23 in May, and he played a lot of snaps at Eastern Kentucky over  the last two years while starting at right tackle. Pro Football Focus charting found that he allowed just two sacks during that time, and he was nearly perfect on a career-high 490 snaps in pass protection last season. The Colonels ran with zone-blocking schemes on 81.4% of their rushing attempts the last two years, so he has a good feel for what the Saints are looking to do offensively.

He also has a clear connection to the Saints. Ezirim was one of the players Jahri Evans coached at the East-West Shrine Bowl earlier this offseason, giving him a hands-on look at the future pro. And Ezirim hits many of the athletic thresholds the Saints value. He weighed in at 6-foot-5 and 328 pounds with 35-inch arms. His 8.50 Relative Athletic Score lines up well with the Saints’ preferences. We’ll see if he stays on the right side (the same side that first-round draft pick Taliese Fuaga will be playing) or if the Saints envision him at a different spot. But he checks all of their boxes. It makes sense to stack depth given Ryan Ramczyk’s health concerns.

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Texas RT Christian Jones gets hands-on work with Saints coach at pro day

Texas right tackle Christian Jones got some hands-on work with the Saints at his pro day. He’s a prospect on the rise, and could be a good understudy for Ryan Ramczyk:

The New Orleans Saints were busy at the Texas Longhorns pro day this week. In addition to keeping close eyes on nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat and meeting with linebacker Jaylan Ford and other prospects, the Saints were able to put right tackle Christian Jones through position drills as prospects worked out ahead of the 2024 NFL draft. Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline reports it was a Saints coach leading Jones through drills.

Pauline doesn’t specify whether it was offensive line coach John Benton, senior assistant Rick Dennison, or assistant line coach Jahri Evans putting Jones through his paces, but either way the Saints got some good information.

Jones nails the athletic archetype the team has shown they value at 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, and he moves really well for someone his size when blocking out in space or crossing the formation behind the line of scrimmage. He also had a productive week of practices at the Senior Bowl against other draft prospects and has checked almost every box through the pre-draft process.

The 23-year-old started 48 of his 61 games with Texas, lining up almost entirely on the right side (though he did start at left tackle for much of the 2021 season). Last year, he allowed just one sack on 511 snaps in pass protection, per Pro Football Focus charting.

Right now, he’s projected to be a third-round pick, though Jones could climb higher and possibly be an option for New Orleans in the second round at No. 45 overall (with the pick coming back to them from the Denver Broncos). The Saints need a long-term solution at right tackle after they asked Ryan Ramczyk to take a steep pay cut while managing his degenerative knee condition. Jones just might be the right player to take that mantle.

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First look at the New Orleans Saints 2024 offensive coaching staff

The New Orleans Saints 2024 offensive coaching staff is complete. Here’s a look at all of the new faces and returning assistants working with Klint Kubiak:

The New Orleans Saints had a frustrating offense in 2023, which led to an almost complete overhaul of the staff for the 2024 season.

Starting with a new offensive coordinator in Klint Kubiak, the Saints filled out a new staff that only has a couple of returning names. With the list of potential coordinators that the Saints interviewed, it is clear that the team wanted to take a younger and more innovative approach this season. Most of the traces of the Sean Payton era are now gone from the offense as they now embrace the new era of offensive football.

Here are all of the coaches that will run the Saints offense in 2024, as the team tries to find success with the same core players:

Jahri Evans passed over for Hall of Fame induction in the Class of 2024

Jahri Evans was passed over for Hall of Fame induction in the Class of 2024. Having to wait longer is disappointing, but the payoff could make it easier to accept:

We’ll start with the bad news. The Pro Football Hall of Fame will not induct Jahri Evans in its Class of 2024 — the New Orleans Saints legend was passed over in favor of other deserving players, including several who had to wait longer than they should have for enshrinement. Evans will have to wait at least one more year to earn his bronze bust and gold jacket in Canton.

Now the good news. It’s disappointing that Evans has to wait a while longer for such powerful recognition, but the payoff might be worth it. If he’s inducted in the Class of 2025 (which seems likely; he was a semifinalist in his first year of eligibility before progressing to the finalist stage in his second turn) then Evans will earn the nod in the same year, and a few days before, Super Bowl LIX is played at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. That would be a fine occasion.

And if not? If Evans’ case lingers in discussion another year, drawing out into 2026, he could go into the Hall of Fame with his legendary quarterback. Drew Brees will be eligible to enter the Hall of Fame for the first time in 2026 which would be Evans’ fourth year of eligibility. He’s a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer, and getting him and his best blocker in together would be awful special.

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Finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

There’s one notable former New Orleans Saints player on the ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024: Jahri Evans. The repeat All-Pro and Pro Bowler won all sorts of accolades during his career with the Saints, and he’s soon going to learn whether or not he’ll be enshrined to the Hall of Fame. So will standout cornerback Eric Allen, who played for several teams including the Saints from 1995 to 1997.

Evans was a semifinalist in 2023, his first year of eligibility, but this time he’s one of 15 modern-era finalists. Along with three senior candidates and one coach/contributor, they’re all in the hunt for induction. The Class of 2024 will be announced at the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday night. Here’s a look at all of the finalists:

NFL Honors: How to watch as Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is revealed

How to watch NFL Honors, where the Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is revealed; will Jahri Evans make the cut?

We’re days away from kickoff in Super Bowl LVIII, which means New Orleans Saints fans should tune into the annual NFL Honors ceremony — former All-Pro right guard Jahri Evans is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, and he’ll learn whether or not he’s being inducted on Thursday night.

The NFL Honors ceremony will also be awarding standout performances for players during the 2023 season, in categories like Most Valuable Player, Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

Here’s how you can keep up:

When: Thursday, Feb. 8, 8 p.m. CT

Where: Resorts World Theatre, Las Vegas, Nev.

TV: CBS, NFL Network

Streaming: fuboTV (try it for free)

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Saints dismiss veteran offensive line coach Doug Marrone

The New Orleans Saints are dismissing veteran offensive line coach Doug Marrone. Incoming OC Klint Kubiak will hire his own help:

The New Orleans Saints are dismissing veteran offensive line coach Doug Marrone, as first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. The Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Luke Johnson confirmed Marrone’s departure.

Marrone was the first assistant Dennis Allen hired in 2022; his arrival was talked up as a former two-time NFL head coach who first came to New Orleans with Sean Payton back in 2006. While Marrone’s influence was positive for right guard Cesar Ruiz’s development, left tackle Trevor Penning did not make enough improvement through his first two years and the New Orleans offensive line as a whole deteriorated.

Change was needed. We’ll see whether Marrone’s assistant coaches Jahri Evans and Kevin Carberry are retained moving forward.

So this means that incoming offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak hire his own help. In addition to hiring a new offensive line coach, the Saints must hire position coaches to work with the running backs and wide receivers after Joel Thomas left for a new job and Kodi Burns was let go. It remains to be seen whether quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry and tight ends coach Clancy Barone figure into Kubiak’s plans, but it’s worth noting Barone worked with him on the Denver Broncos in 2022.

Who could Kubiak bring in to take Marrone’s place? One name to watch is San Francisco 49ers assistant offensive line coach James Cregg, who previously worked at LSU. Another one is Rick Dennison, the former Minnesota Vikings offensive line coach who worked with Kubiak earlier in his career.

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Several Saints assistants working with 2024 draft prospects at Shrine Bowl

Several Saints assistant coaches are working with 2024 draft prospects at the East-West Shrine Bowl. New Orleans added 8 players from last year’s event:

The New Orleans Saints will have a heavy presence at this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl, which makes sense given how many future NFL players have participated in the event. And the 2024 draft class is following that pattern.

Three Saints assistant coaches have been assigned to work with draft prospects at this year’s Shrine Bowl, all on the West Team. It’s as good an opportunity for future pros to work with NFL coaches as it is for each of these men to advance their careers.

Here’s a quick look at them and the players they’ll be working with:

Demario Davis approaching rare territory with fifth straight All-Pro nod

Demario Davis is approaching rare territory with his fifth straight All-Pro nod. He’s joined a small group of Saints players who went on to the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Just five players in New Orleans Saints history have earned five placements on the All-Pro teams from the Associated Press, and now Demario Davis is one of them. The veteran linebacker was recognized as an All-Pro for the fifth year in a row on Friday, his fourth appearance on the second team. He started this run by making the cut for the All-Pro first team back in 2019.

And of the other four Saints players to achieve this distinction, two are already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: outside linebacker Rickey Jackson and left tackle Willie Roaf. A third, right guard Jahri Evans, is a finalist in this year’s class and is waiting for word on whether or not he’ll be chosen for induction in just a few weeks. The remaining member of this group, all-time great quarterback Drew Brees, is expected to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer once he’s eligible in 2026.

Here’s how they compare in All-Pro appearances while with the Saints:

  • Rickey Jackson: Five years on the second team
  • Willie Roaf: Two years on the first team, three on the second team
  • Jahri Evans: Four years on the first team, once on the second team
  • Drew Brees: One year on the first team, four on the second team
  • Demario Davis: One year on the first team, four on the second team

Does this mean Davis is on his way to the Hall of Fame as well? Maybe so, maybe not. It’s tough to say. Jackson and Roaf each accomplished more with other teams, whether that’s earning Pro Bowl recognition, more All-Pro attention, or having won a Super Bowl. Davis doesn’t have the same number of Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro awards (that distinction between the first and second teams matters), though his longevity is impressive. And there are other considerations like records set, stats met, and titles won.

Still, Davis is securely one of the greatest players in franchise history. He’s the best free agent signing the team has ever made — after Brees, of course. It’s a shame that popularity contests like the Pro Bowl factor in so heavily to Hall of Fame resumes, but that doesn’t diminish what Davis has achieved with the Saints in recent years while leading one of the league’s best defenses. Whether he’s bound for the Hall of Fame someday or not, the Saints are very fortunate to have him.

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