4 home-run hits the Saints could make to win free agency

The New Orleans Saints can win free agency by signing a home-run hit such as Patriots guard Joe Thuney or Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper.

We are going to attempt to figure out our four favorite free agent fits for the New Orleans Saints heading into the 2020 offseason. Some key holes on the offense are quite glaring (like guard and receiver), while other areas on the defense could use a shot in the arm (such as defensive end). Here are four options that we’d like to see the Saints target as home-run hits, which would help them win free agency.

Amari Cooper, wide receiver

Cooper’s value improved since his move to the Dallas Cowboys from the Oakland Raiders in 2018. In each of the last two seasons the wideout has averaged over 1,000 yards receiving, scoring 15 touchdowns during that time. Cooper is due for a payday, and many predict he will have earned a lucrative multi-year deal. However, should he get paid in the upper echelons of his position, or even be the highest-paid, as some have suggested?

Instead, Cooper could take a one-year deal with the Saints with a higher average annual value and then seek his multi-year deal the following season. Cooper would have the opportunity to play opposite of Michael Thomas in a much more explosive offense. Those factors alone could see his production skyrocket, which could then be used to justify a massive payday in 2021.

Joe Thuney, guard

A former third-round pick, Thuney has spent the last four seasons protecting quarterback Tom Brady with the New England Patriots. Thuney quickly became one of the best offensive guards in the league, and now he is set to test free agency this offseason.

Pro Football Focus has ranked Thuney in the top-10 at his position in each of the last three years, and should command top-tier money. It would likely take a four-year deal with at least $10-million per year to bring him into the fold. However, if Drew Brees continues to return season after season, the offensive line will have to be the best unit on the field in order to keep the aging quarterback upright. Incumbent left guard Andrus Peat is on his way out, and Thuney would be a huge upgrade.

Marcus Mariota, quarterback

Current backup Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater could feasibly leave the team in free agency this offseason, especially if he fields starting job offers and money. Even if Taysom Hill remains with the team should Bridgewater leave, another backup quarterback would be necessary if Sean Payton wants to continue using Hill in his current capacity as a receiver, runner, and blocker.

Enter Mariota. Mariota is on the outs with the Tennessee Titans, as Ryan Tannehill has a stranglehold on the starting job. We have already highlighted the similarities between Mariota and Bridgewater, and why he could be a great fit with New Orleans. Mariota could be a fantastic long-term option at the position, especially considering his pedigree. Playing with a new coordinator every year he’s been in the NFL did a lot to stunt his development.

Yannick Ngakoue, defensive end

Ngakoue has all but made it known that he will not be returning to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020 according to his Twitter. The 2017 Pro Bowler recorded eight sacks in 2019, despite playing in a bad situation. The addition he would make the Saints’ defensive line one of the most lethal and feared in the league.

However, he will come with a pretty large price tag. His deal would likely exceed $15 million a year, which would make him the highest paid lineman on the defense. That could cause some issues, considering Cameron Jordan recently inked a team-friendly long-term deal worth $14.9 million per year. Imagine the possibilities, though, with a line made up of Jordan, Ngakoue, and a healthy Sheldon Rankins and Marcus Davenport. That just might be worth the price.

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3 backup quarterback options the Seahawks could pursue in 2020

The Seattle Seahawks will once again be in the market for a backup quarterback in 2020. Here are three options they could look into.

It’s the least used position on the Seattle Seahawks 53-man roster, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important.

Russell Wilson’s improbable run of not missing a single game will eventually come to an end, and when that happens, Seattle will want to ensure their backup quarterback is ready.

This team has cycled through backups annually for the past few seasons, and with Geno Smith set to hit free agency – and likely looking for a job where he will actually play – it looks like the Seahawks will have another backup again in 2020.

Seattle has primarily looked for veteran free agents who fit the team’s scheme to play behind Wilson, but they also broke the mold in 2018 when they drafted Alex McGough in the seventh round – a sign they may be willing to develop some talent, even if McGough ultimately lost the job and signed elsewhere.

Here are three options, two on the free agent market and one via the draft, Seattle could pursue to backup Wilson in 2020.

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5 teams who should consider adding QB Marcus Mariota in 2020

Here’s a look at five places that serve as plausible landing spots.

The offseason has begun for all NFL teams, aside from the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, who will appear in Super Bowl LIV.

The other 30 squads have some important decisions to make, with the quarterback position relatively high up on the priority list for several.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota will be hoping to restart his career outside of the Nashville, where he’s played since being selected with the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Here’s a look at five places that serve as plausible landing spots.

1. Chicago Bears.

We’ve seen Mariota connected to this team several times throughout the past.

Mitchell Trubisky is set to remain the starter, despite a disappointing 2019 season.

The chances of Trubisky ultimately panning out are far from certain, and the Bears could find themselves in the market for a quarterback sooner rather than later.

Chicago could do itself a favor this offseason and bring Mariota on as a backup to start and see where things go.

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Could the Patriots sign Titans QB Marcus Mariota?

And even if they were to hold on to Brady, the backup position is also important.

The Tennessee Titans have plenty of important moves to make this offseason, with filling coaching vacancies and settling the quarterback position toward the top of the list.

There’s been some rumblings of how New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady would fit in Tennessee, but what if a Tennessee quarterback were to head to Foxborough?

The writing has been on the wall for Marcus Mariota since he was benched in the middle of Week 6’s loss to the Denver Broncos, and he’ll likely be looking to be a starter outside of Nashville for the 2020 season.

“I have no doubts at all, no doubts at all,” Mariota said when asked about his future as a starting quarterback. “I’m just hopeful and ready for whatever that next opportunity is.”

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Patriots owner Robert Kraft reportedly wants to re-sign the 43-year-old Brady, but if the Patriots were to let him go, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time the team has gotten rid of a player before he hits his decline.

And even if they were to hold on to Brady, the backup position is also important.

Mariota is clearly a cut above current backups Jarrett Stidham and Cody Kessler, and if he is to spend another season without a starting job, there’s no better signal-caller for the former Oregon Duck to spend at least a year learning behind.

The Patriots have little reason to select a quarterback early on in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, and Mariota presents a reasonable, experienced option.

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Ryan Tannehill on Marcus Mariota: ‘I’ll be cheering him on every step of the way’

Demotion is never an easy thing to handle for an NFL quarterback.

But Tennessee Titans signal-caller Marcus Mariota handled being benched in favor of Ryan Tannehill better than many would have.

The team removed Mariota from the starting lineup in Week 6’s loss to the Denver Broncos and never looked back, officially naming Tannehill the starter in Week 7.

Marcus is an incredible human being, and I have so much respect and love for him,” Tannehill said in a report from the Titans’ Jim Wyatt. “The way he handled things – it was an incredibly tough situation. He was in Tennessee for five years, and it was his team and where he made his home. The way things went down, I don’t think many guys in the world would handle it the way he did. He handed it like a true professional. He was supportive of me from Day One. I know he was hurting, and I tried to be empathetic with that throughout the season and give support to him as well. But he handled it so well – he was supportive of me, helped me out on game days, in preparation during the week. He was just a consistent guy throughout the year.”

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The future for both Tannehill and Mariota with the Titans remains unclear, but there’s a high chance the former will receive an extension while the latter will pursue a starting position elsewhere.

It’s likely the end of an era for the Titans and Mariota, who was selected by Tennessee as the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

But if one thing is for sure, it’s that Mariota and Tannehill have each other’s backs regardless of how things play out down the line for both quarterbacks.

“I know he has big things in front of him in his career,” Tannehill said. “and I’ll be cheering him on every step of the way.”

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Titans QB Marcus Mariota has ‘no doubts’ he can be an NFL starter, receives praise from Mike Vrabel

When asked about if he could be a starter again, he had a confident response.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota has left his mark on the Tennessee Titans organization in a number of ways.

Despite being demoted to backup in favor of Ryan Tannehill after Week 6’s loss to the Denver Broncos, fans can’t forget about the thrilling wins he led the team to, and how much he’s helped the Titans in terms of imitating opposing quarterbacks in practice and keeping attitudes positive in the locker room while being sidelined.

He has the utmost respect of the fan base, his coaches and teammates for good reason, and head coach Mike Vrabel had nothing but good things to say about Mariota in his Monday press conference.

According to the team’s Jim Wyatt, Vrabel talked with Mariota that morning and “told him how proud he is with how he handled everything this season.”

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He also said that he’s a great leader, and that he’s seen improvement from the signal-caller.

While this season has certainly served as a setback for Mariota, who was previously so used to taking snaps for the team who drafted him at No. 2 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, he’s still assured that a bright future lies ahead.

When asked about if he could be a starter again, he had a confident response.

“I have no doubts at all, no doubts at all,” Mariota said in a report by the team’s website. “I’m just hopeful and ready for whatever that next opportunity is.”

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The Titans have some important decisions to make this offseason, and it’s almost for certain that they’ll let Mariota go.

As to where he lands will be something to watch ahead of the 2020 NFL season.

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Marcus Mariota: Career with Titans has been ‘a gift’

He couldn’t have handled it with more class.

Since being demoted to the Tennessee Titans’ backup quarterback after Week 6’s loss to the Denver Broncos, Marcus Mariota has done everything from imitating the opposing quarterback to being a source of support on the sidelines to running certain packages for the team on offense in his new role.

It’s obviously the end of the season for the Titans after a 35-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, but it could also very well mark the final game of Mariota’s career in Tennessee.

Regardless of how things play out, the signal-caller is grateful for his time with the team who drafted him at No. 2 overall in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

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“It was a gift,” Mariota told reporters after the game. “It’s been a true pleasure. The organization took a chance on me, and I felt like I had given them everything I got. Obviously, we are not sure what’s going to happen, but I know when it’s all said and done, I gave this organization everything I could.”

After the game, Mariota spent time in the locker room addressing each of his teammates.

“Marcus Mariota is walking up to every player in the Titans’ locker room, one after another, now working through the defensive guys, to shake hands and hug them,” ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported. “A quiet, quick message for each one. Always classy.”

Mariota completed 59.4% of his passes for 1,203 passing yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions over seven games on the 2019 regular season, also posting 129 rushing yards on 24 carries in the same time span.

In his time in Tennessee, he saw action in 63 games, starting 61 of those. He passed for 76 touchdowns and 44 interceptions, using his mobility to account for 11 rushing scores as well.

There’s no telling what the future holds for Mariota’s career at this point.

But if anything is for certain, it is that he has the utmost respect from the fan base, his teammates and the Tennessee Titans organization.

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Bears would do well to follow the Titans model

If the Bears want to ensure a return to the playoffs, they should look no further than the Titans, who did the right thing at the QB spot.

If there’s one thing the Bears can take from watching championship Sunday from home, it’s motivation. Motivation to get back to their winning ways.

That, and a blueprint in how best to ensure a playoff reappearance and a possible Super Bowl run. Look no further than the Titans, who after a 2-4 start to the season are one win away from a Super Bowl appearance.

But if the Titans hadn’t made the decision to bench former No. 2 overall draft pick Marcus Mariota in favor of backup Ryan Tannehill, chances are they wouldn’t be in the position they are now.

Obviously when you draft a quarterback as high as the Titans did in Mariota you’re committed to getting the most out of him. But there comes a time when you have to make the best decision for your team when it comes to winning — and pursuing a championship. So the Titans pulled the trigger and benched Mariota. And since Tannehill took over on Oct. 13, the Titans offense has come to life and are playing in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.

That’s something the Bears can learn with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who like Mariota is a former No. 2 overall draft pick and there’s been a lot invested in him. Trubisky hasn’t lived up to expectations in his three seasons, especially with his regression in 2019.

While there wasn’t much that went right on offense, including Trubisky, the Bears need to invest at the quarterback position in 2020 so they don’t continue to waste a championship-caliber defense.

The Bears made the right decision in not benching Trubisky in 2019, if only because he gave the team the best chance to win. Chase Daniel, while quite familiar with Matt Nagy’s system, wasn’t the better option. Tyler Bray wasn’t the answer either. Trubisky was the best quarterback on the roster.

But the Bears can’t rehash history in 2020, which makes this offseason an important one. They need to bring in competition for Trubisky — a veteran in free agency and then possibly a young prospect in the NFL Draft.

One of three things can happen in 2020.

Trubisky turns things around in Year 3 of Nagy’s offense and, with the help of a dominant defense, lead the Bears back to the playoffs.
Trubisky continues to struggle and is replaced by a viable backup that, who knows, might do enough to help the Bears make a return to the playoffs. Or, at the very least, inject some life into the offense.
Trubisky struggles and is benched, and his replacement doesn’t fare much better. Although considering the changes made with the coaching staff, things shouldn’t be similar to what they were last season on offense.

While obviously Bears brass are banking on the first option, there’s no guarantee that a struggling Trubisky is going to magically put it altogether in Year 4. So having a veteran waiting in the wings isn’t the worst idea in the world.

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Are the Colts a landing spot for Marcus Mariota?

Marcus Mariota to the Colts?

With the conference championship games taking place Sunday, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota will be watching from the sidelines in what is likely one of the final games he plays with the team that drafted him.

The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft was benched halfway through the season in favor of Ryan Tannehill, who has helped propel the Titans to the AFC Championship game. As Tannehill likely gets another contract this offseason, Mariota is likely on his way out.

The Indianapolis Colts are in the market for a quarterback this offseason. Could they be a landing spot for Mariota?

While Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton believes that could be the case, it is highly unlikely the two sides join this offseason.

Even if the Colts wanted to add some competition for Brissett in the quarterback room, Mariota shouldn’t be the near top choice. There are plenty of better options in free agency and the upcoming draft that would suffice over Mariota.

The Colts have gotten a good look at the Oregon product since he entered the NFL. While he’s still young at the age of 26 and there is some promise given his athleticism, Mariota struggles mightily in some of the bigger aspects of quarterbacking.

While he may be efficient in the red zone, Mariota struggles with anticipation and timing on his throws. He has rarely shown the ability to push the ball downfield to squeeze a throw into a tight window. Mariota also struggles with keeping his eyes downfield.

When evading a pass rush, Mariota often lets his eyes drop rather than feeling the rush and evading while keeping his eyes downfield. There are also questions about his deep accuracy.

The Colts had their own issues in 2019 under center. Jacoby Brissett disappointing in a big way while replacing the retired Andrew Luck. Brissett exhibited similar struggles in anticipatory throws and pushing the ball downfield.

The Colts don’t need to bring in another quarterback that would be a lateral move if they needed to switch things up.

There are a lot of questions as to whether the Colts will even address the quarterback position. But if they do, adding Mariota wouldn’t be pushing the needle.

If Teddy Bridgewater leaves in free agency, who could replace him?

The New Orleans Saints will have options to replace Teddy Bridgewater in free agency with Marcus Mariota, Mike Glennon, and other veterans.

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What are the New Orleans Saints going to do at quarterback this year?

It’s an easy question to ask, and almost too simple to try and answer. They should re-sign Drew Brees for one more year, if he’s willing, because he gives the Saints their best shot at winning a Super Bowl title. They should also keep Teddy Bridgewater around as a top-paid backup, because he impressed while winning all five of his starts. And Taysom Hill should return on a cheap restricted free agent tender; he’s a fun weapon who can run and catch, but has shown some serious limitations as a passer. It’s fine if his future isn’t at quarterback.

But things rarely go according to plan in the NFL. Bridgewater should be a hot commodity in free agency — we’ve already highlighted several teams who could try to sign him away from New Orleans. While the Saints can’t afford to pay a starter’s salary to both Brees and Bridgewater (or other top free agents like Dak Prescott, Ryan Tannehill, or Jameis Winston), he’s definitely earned it, and it’s very possible the backup leaves town in pursuit of a starting gig.

So let’s say Bridgewater bows out for greater opportunities, while Brees and Hill remain. Which free agents could the Saints try to recruit in free agency to pad out the depth chart at quarterback? Here are four options that could make sense.

Marcus Mariota

He makes sense if… The Saints see him as a future starter. Mariota is on the outs, having flopped as a high first-round pick with the Tennessee Titans. But it’s not like he was surrounded by offensive masterminds. In fact, he’s had to work with a new coordinator every year he’s played in the NFL. The Saints could offer rare stability for the 26-year-old quarterback, who thrived with similar passing concepts in college. Mariota is kind of similar to Bridgewater, having protected the ball well while struggling to pull the trigger on deep-field throws. Maybe Saints coach Sean Payton can tap into the potential the Titans squandered.

Trevor Siemian

He makes sense if… Payton wants another reclamation project. An ugly ankle injury ended Siemian’s season before it could get off the ground, but he’s a mechanically-sound passer who’s won games in this league. Granted, he’s only gone 13-11 as a starter with the Denver Broncos, but that isn’t far from Bridgewater’s mark of 17-11 with the Minnesota Vikigns. Siemian has shown he can navigate a collapsing pocket and hit receivers in stride. He’d be worth a look as someone who could develop behind Brees and compete with Hill for the starting job in the future.

Chase Daniel

He makes sense if… The Saints aren’t worried about life after 2020. Let’s say that the Saints have a ton of faith in Hill’s projection in the long-term. If he’s their guy after Brees calls it a career, they won’t need a younger option to work with while pursuing a Super Bowl berth next season. Daniel knows the offense well, won’t break the bank, and can provide a steady presence for Brees to workshop new signature handshakes with during his swan song. At 33, he could easily stick around as a safety blanket should Hill struggle in the starting role later on down the road.

Mike Glennon

He makes sense if… Chase Daniel is ready to retire. Maybe Daniel wants to go out on top, with $34.3 million and a couple of Super Bowl rings to his credit. If so, Glennon makes sense as a veteran alternative. Payton has been a fan of Glennon going back to the 2014 NFL Draft, even if the N.C. State product’s career hasn’t gone as hoped. He was immediately replaced by the Chicago Bears when they made an ill-advised trade up for Mitchell Trubisky, and spent last season quietly on the bench behind Oakland Raiders passer Derek Carr. Maybe Payton still likes him enough to ask Glennon to hold a clipboard for a year while Brees chases another Super Bowl.

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