Tag: malcolm roach

Saints don’t have any players in PFF’s top-100 free agents rankings

The Saints don’t have any players in PFF’s top-100 free agents rankings. Expect most of their starting lineup to return for 2024:

Don’t look for the New Orleans Saints to lose many key players in free agency this year. They’ve done a good job of pre-emptively signing players to extension ahead of time; last summer they inked deals with starters who would have hit free agency in 2024 like right guard Cesar Ruiz, defensive ends Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson, as well as long snapper Zach Wood.

That means only a handful of household names are headed for the open market this offseason. And when you consider the landscape of free agency, there are plenty of players who are seen as better options. Pro Football Focus analysts compiled a top-150 list of the best pending free agents, and there wasn’t a single Saints player in the top-100.

New Orleans was represented by just two names: wide receiver Michael Thomas at No. 115 and quarterback Jameis Winston at No. 130. Both players are technically under contract for 2024, but the Saints must decide whether to extend or release them by March or accept severe salary cap penalties, so for all intents and purposes they’re part of the free agent class.

Thomas was ranked 13th among 17 wide receivers in the top 150, while Winston was slotted in at sixth in the six-man free agent quarterbacks class. Neither of them are projected to land big deals in free agency, either, with PFF projecting one-year deals worth $8 million (for Thomas) and $4 million (for Winston). That’s very manageable not just for interested teams but for the Saints to match if they so choose.

Now, this isn’t to say the Saints won’t lose some players they’d like to have back. Andrus Peat might be a must-sign free agent at left tackle. Guys like linebacker Zack Baun, defensive tackle Malcolm Roach, and cornerback Isaac Yiadom might have better opportunities to get on the field elsewhere. But as far as the starting lineups on both sides of the ball are concerned, there’s going to be a lot of continuity carrying over into 2024.

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8 pending free agents who may be playing their final games with the Saints

Whether it’s due to age, contract status, or other factors, these 8 pending free agents may be playing their final games with the Saints:

There are just a few weeks left in the 2023 season, meaning some New Orleans Saints players are going to be playing their final games in black and gold. A few of them already have. Free agency is looming off on the horizon in March and the Saints are going to have to make some tough decisions given their difficult salary cap outlook.

Some players have really helped themselves by stepping up when their number was called. Others are poised to move on in free agency and seek better opportunities. And a few are aging out and likely headed for their next chapter in pro football.

Here are the players we’re watching closely in the final weeks of the 2023 season:

Saints announce 5 roster moves before Week 14 matchup vs. Panthers

The New Orleans Saints announced five roster moves before their Week 14 matchup with the Carolina Panthers:

The New Orleans Saints announced five roster moves before their Week 14 matchup with the Carolina Panthers, losing two key defenders to injured reserve while parting ways with a veteran on the practice squad — and signing a couple of young defensive players to reinforce the 53-man roster. Here’s what you need to know about each move:

29 combined players listed on initial Saints-Panthers injury report for Week 14

29 combined players were listed on the initial Saints-Panthers injury report for Week 14. Both teams banged up:

It’s tough to say whether the New Orleans Saints or the Carolina Panthers have an edge on the Week 14 injury report, but you could go with pure numbers: the Panthers listed 14 players, while the Saints have 15 of their own receiving treatment from the medical staff. Some of New Orleans’ non-participants include quarterback Taysom Hill (foot/left hand) and defensive end Cameron Jordan (ankle).

But two of those Saints players (defensive tackle Malcolm Roach and free safety Marcus Maye) are going on injured reserve, so maybe the scales tip back in New Orleans’ favor, depending on how you look at it. Either way, it’s clear the Saints may need to make some adjustments in personnel this week.

That’s also true for Carolina. We’ll monitor updates to the injury report and news from practice in the days ahead. For now, here’s the latest from each team:

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Saints lose key defenders Marcus Maye, Malcolm Roach to injured reserve

The Saints lost key defenders Marcus Maye and Malcolm Roach to injured reserve. They won’t be able to return until the regular season finale, if at all:

This is tough. The New Orleans Saints announced that key defenders Marcus Maye and Malcolm Roach are going to injured reserve on Wednesday, meaning they won’t be able to return until the regular season finale, if at all. Players must sit out at least four games on injured reserve before being eligible to return. Maye has been their best option at free safety, while Roach is an active presence at defensive tackle.

It’s possible they’re both too banged up to return this year if the Saints don’t make the playoffs. Roach is dealing with a knee injury he suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions, while Maye is going to miss time recovering from a shoulder issue that’s sidelined him in recent weeks. Roach is likely undergoing surgery. It’s a tough break for him with free agency on the horizon — he had played his best season in the NFL this year. He had more tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage than any other Saints defensive tackle.

As for Maye: availability has always been the concern for him. He was limited to just 10 games last season with rib and shoulder injuries. A suspension cost him three games this year, and he’ll have appeared in only 7 games all told, though it’s unclear if this is the same shoulder. He’ll be entering the final year of his contract in 2024 and the Saints will need to make a decision on whether to keep him around.

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Dennis Allen says DT Malcolm Roach may need knee surgery after injury

Dennis Allen says defensive tackle Malcolm Roach may need knee surgery after suffering an injury late against the Lions:

This could be a key loss for the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Dennis Allen said Monday that defensive tackle Malcolm Roach is exploring his options after suffering a knee injury that may require surgery in Sunday’s loss tot he Detroit Lions. With just five games left on the schedule, this could be a season-ending injury for Roach.

And that would be a crushing blow for him. Roach, 25, is headed for free agency in the spring and figures to cash in after setting new career-highs in tackles (38), assists (25), tackles for loss (3), and passes defensed (3).

Hopefully a second opinion and further evaluation leaves Roach in a more positive position. He’s brought a lot of energy to the rotation and is an active player in the trenches, ranking third on the team with 10 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage despite playing the fewest snaps (290) at defensive tackle behind Nathan Shepherd (415), Bryan Brsee and Khalen Saunders (366).

If he’s going to be sidelined, look for the Saints to bring up preseason standout Jack Heflin from their practice squad or take a look at outside free agents to reinforce the position group. They’ve been gashed on the ground this season and may need more upgrades at defensive tackle regardless of injuries.

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5 Saints players who deserve bigger roles coming out of the bye week

Rashid Shaheed and Juwan Johnson are two of the Saints players who deserve bigger roles coming out of the bye week:

It can’t be more obvious that the New Orleans Saints need to make some changes during their bye week. They’re lucky to have a 5-5 record and sit on top of the worst division in pro football; the weak NFC South is all that’s keeping them in the playoff picture.

So what adjustments can they make? They can start by making bigger roles for these five players after the bye week:

This two-round 2024 mock draft has the Saints prioritizing the line of scrimmage

This two-round 2024 mock draft has the Saints prioritizing the line of scrimmage, starting with finding Bryan Bresee’s new tag-team partner:

Mock drafts are all the rage, and the bye week presents a good opportunity for New Orleans Saints fans to take a look at which prospects are impressing ahead of the 2024 NFL draft. We’ve got a two-round projection from Curt Popejoy over at Draft Wire, who has the Saints investing their first-round pick on Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III.

Taylor is a perfect fit at a listed 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, and he’s disruptive with 22.5 tackles for loss in his 28-game career thus far. Bryan Bresee looks like the real deal and pairing him with someone like Taylor could set the Saints up at defensive tackle for years to come. They could lose Malcolm Roach in free agency in the spring which opens a slot in the rotation. Nathan Shepherd has played the most snaps at defensive tackle this season but he’s going to turn 31 next year in the second year of his three-year contract. Adding Taylor could help the Saints get younger and faster up front.

But the Saints’ pick in the second round of this mock draft would be a good get, too. Popejoy has them taking Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu at the No. 45 pick coming back from the Denver Broncos. Fautanu is someone we highlighted in our own recent five-round projection as someone who could help the Saints out at either left tackle or left guard, where things are very uncertain moving forwards.

Andrus Peat has looked like their best player at left tackle after taking over for Trevor Penning after he was benched, but he’s a free agent in the spring, and James Hurst hasn’t been that impressive at either spot. Maybe Fautanu can help the Saints figure out a long-term plan at one of those positions. Either way, the Saints are not winning at the line of scrimmage often enough on either side of the ball this season, and it’s clear that they should continue to invest in their offensive and defensive lines to get better up front.

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Marshon Lattimore (ankle) questionable to return vs. Vikings

Marshon Lattimore (ankle) questionable to return as another Saints starter injured vs. Vikings

The New Orleans Saints announced that cornerback Marshon Lattimore would be questionable to return during Week 10’s game with the Minnesota Vikings, meaning a third starter was injured at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday: Lattimore, quarterback Derek Carr, and wide receiver Michael Thomas. A very healthy Saints squad is suddenly looking like they could some rest in the bye week.

Lattimore was injured when another player rolled onto his leg while trying to help out with a tackle late in the fourth quarter; his teammate Malcolm Roach got the wind knocked out of him in the collision but was able to return to play. Lattimore left the game on a medical cart for further evaluation, though he was able to get to the sideline on his own without assistance.

Veteran backup Isaac Yiadom stepped in for Lattimore with Paulson Adebo remaining out on the other side and Alontae Taylor sticking to the slot.

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Both of the Saints’ questionable players are active for Week 9 Bears game

The Saints listed two players as questionable for Sunday’s game with the Bears on the final injury report, but they’re both active and available:

Good news, everyone: both of the players listed on the New Orleans Saints injury report as questionable for Sunday’s game are active. Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach and rookie running back Kendre Miller were the latest personnel to miss time in practice while dealing with a virus that has been making its way through the team facility, but they’ll gut it out and dress for Week 9’s matchup with the Chicago Bears.

Roach has played well in a contract year, totaling 182 snaps at defensive tackle behind Nathan Shepherd (270), Bryan Bresee (245), and Khalen Saunders (242). He’s posted 22 combined tackles (7 solo, 3 tackles for loss) through the first eight games along with a pass deflection and several quarterback pressures.

Miller was slowed by a hamstring injury to start his first season as a pro, but he’s logged 82 snaps on offense in six games. The rookie has gained 83 rushing yards on 27 attempts (3.1 yards per carry) and caught 8 passes for 80 yards (10 yards per reception). His 163 scrimmage yards rank ninth among first-year running backs going into Week 9, but so do his 35 combined touches. He needs to show more of the big-play ability the Saints coveted from his college game tape.

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