Tag: reports

Taliese Fuaga knocking off the rust at left tackle in Saints rookie minicamp

Taliese Fuaga was busy knocking off the rust at left tackle during Saints rookie minicamp. Now is the time to explore his options, not August:

This was mildly surprising. When the New Orleans Saints took the field for rookie minicamp practices this weekend, former Oregon State right tackle Taliese Fuaga was lining up on the left side of the line. He hasn’t played left tackle since he was in high school, but the Saints must be prepared in case they need him there in the fall.

And it makes more sense to have Fuaga knock off the rust in May than in August or September. He told reporters after practice that “Yeah, it’s just, you know a little rusty over there on the left side. Definitely got to get those reps in again.”

Right now, the Saints should have confidence that Fuaga can continue to play at a high level on the right side after he won All-American and all-conference recognition there in college; while putting together game tape that convinced the team to draft him at No. 14 overall. But the left tackle spot is far from settled.

If Trevor Penning can’t win the job in his third year on the squad, Fuaga might be needed there protecting Derek Carr’s blind side. So it’s better to get a foundation for him to work with in his stance at left tackle than to throw him into it unprepared later this year. So how difficult is the transition?

“I don’t know, some say it’s like driving on the other side of the highway, you know what I’m saying?” Fuaga replied. “It’s just getting used to it. That’s all I can say about that.”

While this doesn’t mean the Saints are done with Penning and looking to move Fuaga around in the pros, it does mean they’re preparing for that eventuality. It’s on Penning to develop into a better player and prove that isn’t necessary. If he continues to struggle as he’s done in the past, it could be Fuaga taking his place in the line.

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Saints are likelier to extend Demario Davis’ contract than trade him

The Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora reports that the Saints are seeking to trade linebacker Demario Davis, but he’s likelier to sign an extension with New Orleans:

Could the New Orleans Saints trade Demario Davis? That’s what Jason La Canfora is reporting for the Washington Post, chalking it up to the team’s complicated salary cap situation.

“The Saints are pushing to find a trade partner for cornerback Marshon Lattimore and linebacker Demario Davis, two linchpins of their defense, according to people in the industry,” La Canfora wrote.

Davis currently has a salary cap hit north of $18.1 million, third-highest on the team, and trading him would only save about $4.9 million.  He’s the NFL’s oldest starting linebacker at 35 but he’s won four consecutive spots on the Associated Press’ All-Pro team, with back-to-back appearances at the Pro Bowl Games. He hasn’t slowed down yet.

If they’re so worried about the cap (and they aren’t; New Orleans’ reported moves have them in the red by just $10.9 million) the Saints would save almost twice as month money with a standard restructure: $8.09 million. And they’d still have Davis on the roster. He is entering the final year of his deal so there’s a risk of him leaving a lot of dead money behind next year by taking that route.

Which brings us to the possibility of an extension. Cutting a new deal with Davis would save even more money (around $8.6 million) by redoing his contract and spreading his already-guaranteed money out while insuring he’ll get to retire in black and gold. That’s the approach they took with Tyrann Mathieu (and Cameron Jordan last summer), and it makes sense to use the same mechanisms with Davis. He’s an important leader and playmaker on their defense.

You should never say never in the NFL, but the money alone makes trading Davis a bad idea for the Saints. Combine that with his contract status, his still-impressive level of play, and the options available to them and it’s tough to draw the same conclusions La Canfora came away with. The only certainty is that Davis can’t be playing for New Orleans this year as his contract is currently written. Whether it’s another restructure, extension, or something else, something’s got to give.

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Saints training camp: Which players have received rest days?

Which veteran players have received rest days at Saints training camp? It’s a good indication of who’s making the cut for roster spots, and who is managing their workload:

We’re halfway through New Orleans Saints training camp with the first 11 practices in the books — so it’s a good time to take stock of which players have been given rest days up to this point. It’s not uncommon for two or three veterans to be given a day off in the heat of the summer, but some guys with injury histories are also scheduled for a rest day here or there as the team manages their workload.

So which players have been given the most rest days through camp so far? At the halfway point, here are the areas the team is taking it cautiously:

One takeaway from each Saints position group after first week at training camp

One takeaway from each Saints position group after first week at training camp

The first week of New Orleans Saints training camp is in the books — through four practices without pads, the team has experienced a lot of highlights and some low moments, but things are moving well. With their first padded practice coming up on Monday (in front of fans) and the preseason opener just two weeks away, let’s check in on each position group:

Which Saints players weren’t spotted at voluntary workouts during OTAs?

Which Saints players weren’t spotted at voluntary workouts during OTAs? Several star players and starters along the offensive line weren’t reported to be in attendance:

The New Orleans Saints will report for a three-day mandatory minicamp this week, beginning Tuesday, June 13, and it’s going to be the first opportunity for local media to put eyes on some players who weren’t available for voluntary workouts earlier this offseason during organized team activities.

Now, it’s possible some of these players were around for practices that weren’t open to the media — reporters were only allowed to observe three of the Saints’ ten workouts at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, so maybe some players just happened to miss those days. But between injury concerns, personal responsibilities, and, frankly, star player status, some guys haven’t been in the building yet.

84 of the 90 players currently under contract participated in at least one of those three practice dates. Here are the six players who were not reported to be in attendance for any of the voluntary organized team activities open to the media ahead of mandatory minicamp:

New Orleans Saints 2023 schedule tracker: Instant analysis on latest reports, rumors, and leaks

New Orleans Saints 2023 schedule tracker: Instant analysis on the latest reports, rumors, and leaks for this season’s games

The 2023 NFL schedule release is drawing closer by the minute, but there have already been plenty of reports, rumors, and leaks flying around on what’s in store for the New Orleans Saints.

Some of those claims (like the Saints supposedly traveling to Germany for a game with the New England Patriots) have already been disproven by the NFL. So take this with a grain of salt and wait for the official schedule release to make your travel arrangements.

In the meantime, we’ll maintain this live tracker for what’s being reported by reputable outlets. Check this space often as we piece the Saints’ schedule together:

Report: Vikings rebuffed trade offer from Saints in Round 1

Report: Vikings rebuffed trade offers from Saints and Chiefs in Round 1 of 2023 draft

The New Orleans Saints didn’t trade up in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, but it’s not for lack of trying. Some intrigue surrounded the Minnesota Vikings at the No. 23 pick, who ran their 10-minute clock down to the final seconds before turning in their card to make their pick. Per Minneapolis 5 Eyewitness News’ Darren Wolfson, the Vikings took so long because they were weighing trade offers from the Saints (at No. 29) and the Kansas City Chiefs (at No. 31).

And at least one of those teams wanted USC wide receiver Jordan Addison, who the Vikings also coveted. In the end, Wolfson reports, the trade offers weren’t lucrative enough to keep the Minnesota from staying put and taking Addison for themselves.

Were the Saints in on Addison? We can’t say for sure without looking at their draft board, but probably not. He doesn’t fit the high athletic standards they value in the draft, which is reflected in his pedestrian 5.95 Relative Athletic Score. He’s still a tremendous talent and one of the best route-runners in the entire draft class, which is why the Vikings picked him. More likely it was the Chiefs targeting Addison. There had been a lot of reports, rumors, smoke, buzz, and other scuttlebutt going around in the days leading up to the draft that Kansas City hoped to trade up in the first round for a receiver.

So who were the Saints targeting? They ultimately chose to wait it out at No. 29 and pick either of the Clemson defensive linemen (Bresee or Myles Murphy, who the Cincinnati Bengals drafted one slot ahead of them). Maybe they weren’t completely confident in both guys making it to their pick. Looking at the other players taken between Nos. 23 and 27, the closest athletic fit was Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks (picked by the New York Giants in a curious trade up from No. 25 to 24), who the Saints did host on one of their 30 allotted pre-draft visits at the team facility. Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid may have also been an option though he had an incomplete athletic profile due to injury, and the Buffalo Bills also traded up to get him at No. 25.

We’re speculating, but maybe the Saints had high grades on Banks, Murphy, Bresee, and maybe Kincaid, and they were angling to move up and have their pick of the bunch. Only they weren’t willing to push enough chips in to satisfy the teams that would be moving down, so competitors won those bids. That would explain why the Giants were compelled to make a trade and move up just one slot. In the end, the Saints made the right call in not trading up. They still got one of their top prospects at their most important position of need. But it’s still fun to consider what may have been.

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New Orleans Saints free agency tracker: Every report, rumor, and signing

Our New Orleans Saints free agency tracker is live. Check this space often for every report, rumor, and signing:

Our New Orleans Saints free agency tracker is live. Check this space often for every report, rumor, and signing as the black and gold work to retool their roster for the 2023 season. The Saints are going into free agency with 56 of their 90 offseason roster spots filled, having already brought back several of their own players before the NFL’s legal tampering period begins.

Which brings us to how this process actually works. Then Saints can talk to their own free agents at any time — but league rules mean they can’t approach other teams’ free agents until 11 a.m. CT on Monday, March 13. That’s when teams are allowed to reach out to players around the league. But again, nothing is official until 3 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 15. That’s when the new league fiscal year begins and when players can sign on the dotted line.

So we’ve got to be careful with how this is all reported. Agreements can fall apart and be broken. We’ll have all of the Saints news from trusted outlets and reporters gathered in this space along with our coverage from every report and rumor. Stay tuned as things heat up in the days ahead:

Tracking Saints’ practice squad signings and roster moves

Tracking Saints’ practice squad signings and roster moves. Check this space often for instant analysis:

Several hundred NFL players received bad news on Tuesday with teams filing roster cuts, but a good number of them are getting another chance to hang on with practice squads across the league. That includes the New Orleans Saints, who released six players and waived a dozen others — and who know turn their attention towards filling out the 16-man practice squad.

As we’ve discussed before, up to six of those spots can be filled by veteran players with more than two accrued seasons (defined as at least six games played in a single year). The other spots are filled by first- and second-year pros. And most of them will be players who were just let go on Tuesday, only to re-sign with New Orleans on Wednesday. But there may be some newcomers.

And the Saints will be busy processing various transactions for injuries and shuffling the depth chart, so the 53 players under contract Tuesday afternoon will be different come kickoff with the Atlanta Falcons in a week and a half. So we should anticipate some movement beyond practice squad additions. Here’s everything we know so far:

UP TO DATE: What to know about the Julio Jones trade saga

Julio Jones is one of the biggest names in all of the NFL, and as he is about to enter season No. 11, his name is plastered everywhere in…

Former Alabama star wide receiver Julio Jones is about to enter season No. 11 in the NFL, all spent with the team that drafted him, the Atlanta Falcons.

It seems like most NFL news sources are flooded with reports, rumors and speculation surrounding Jones’ status with the Falcons and what kind of trade offers the franchise would field.

With a lot of information floating around all at once, here’s what’s important about the whole situation:

First of all, Jones wants out. He made that clear on a phone call with Shannon Sharpe live on his show with Skip Bayless, Undisputed. Whether that bit was staged, or not, what he said was heard loud and clear by NFL front offices, reporters and fans: Julio is done with Atlanta.

While Jones has made his stance evident, the feeling is likely mutual, according to reports that claim the team would like to trade off Jones due to issues with the salary cap stemming from his extremely large contract.

The wide receiver will have a cap hit of $23,050,000 in 2021 for the Falcons, and a guaranteed salary of $15,300,000.

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

So if the Falcons are fielding offers, which teams might have already reached out?

Some organizations that have already been named as potential landing spots for one of the best offensive players in the league: Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and plenty others.

Most of the aforementioned teams are named purely due to speculation across the league via anonymous front office workers acting as ‘sources.’ However, some of the teams listed have reportedly made phone calls, such as the Seahawks and Titans.

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The Falcons are supposedly seeking a first-round pick and a little extra; however, some believe that they will take what they can get given the team’s financial circumstances and Jones’ unwillingness to be a part of the organization.

There has been no official word from any franchise regarding a legitimate offer sent in, but there is strong speculation that big-name players from around the league and high draft picks are up for grabs.

No matter where Jones lands, it will surely be a pretty large deal consisting of some stars, or future stars by way of draft picks.

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