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PFF identifies a popular draft riser as a top Day 2 target for the Saints

PFF identified a popular draft riser as a top Day 2 target for the Saints. How could Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson help the team?

There’s a ton of intrigue surrounding the New Orleans Saints as they finish preparing for the 2024 draft, but we’ve got a good idea about their plans in the first round: necessity is almost forcing them into adding an offensive tackle between Ryan Ramczyk’s health concerns and Trevor Penning’s too-slow development. So what’s more interesting is to consider their options in the second round.

Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman has a suggestion: Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Darius Robinson. It’s no secret that the Saints didn’t bring enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks last year, but Wasserman writes that Wasserman could help improve there while also upgrading a sneaky-bad New Orleans run defense:

“The Saints need defensive line help, and Missouri’s Darius Robinson could be a versatile target for the team. Robinson played on the edge in 2023 but has plenty of experience inside and could be better suited there. Either way, his strength in the run game and improved pass-rush ability would strengthen New Orleans’ defensive line.”

While Robinson mainly lined up inside against guards earlier in his career (logging 581 of his 762 snaps in the B gap in 2021 and 2022) he moved outside in 2023 and responded with career-highs in sacks (8.5) and total quarterback pressures (27, per PFF charting). The Saints use a ton of three-man fronts and he offers flexibility as someone who can play inside or out. He stood out in practices at the Senior Bowl this year and did well at the NFL Scouting Combine, though his numbers in agility drills were a little underwhelming.

And he certainly has the size they’ve looked for under head coach Dennis Allen. Robinson weighed in at an impressive 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, with his 34.5-inch arms giving him a rare wingspan. If he was playing football 15 or 20 years ago he’d probably have been moved to offensive tackle. Instead, he uses his size to his advantage. Robinson’s 7.72 Relative Athletic Score doesn’t meet the thresholds that line up with the Saints’ usual standards, but it’s close enough to keep him in consideration with the 45th pick.

If the Saints can address their offensive line early on in the first round, maybe they can afford the luxury of drafting a defender like Robinson in the second round. Checking off that highest priority right away would free them up to look into other team needs like the defensive line and receiving corps (and we should remember they aren’t limited to wideouts; a pass-catching tight end could do well in this offense, too). With so many picks at their disposal in the later rounds, it shouldn’t shock anyone to see the Saints act aggressively to trade up for someone they value highly earlier in the draft. Maybe it’s someone like Robinson.

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6 under-the-radar free agents Saints could target

6 under-the-radar free agents the New Orleans Saints could target on offense and defense:

The New Orleans Saints will have largely the same roster next year as they did last season, but will need to look around for some role players to replace those that are on the way out.

The Saints likely won’t be in on the big name targets such as defensive linemen Chris Jones, Justin Madubike or Josh Allen but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t options at more available price points.

Last year, they signed players like veteran safeties Jonathan Abram and Ugo Amadi that flew under the radar during free agency, but ended up making a bit of an impact and will likely stick around for another year.

Here are some under-the-radar options in this free agency class at some positions of need:

6 pending free agents to watch in Lions-49ers NFC Championship Game

Two of the best teams in the NFL are about to take the stage when the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers kick off. Hopefully the New Orleans Saints can get where these squads have gotten and reach the NFC Championship Game next year.

Signing some of their players would help. Both the Lions and the 49ers have some pending free agents who could be good fits in New Orleans. If the Saints want to build a playoffs-ready roster, they should stock it with some players who have been there before. Here are some names to watch on Sunday evening:

PFF says Saints should target this slot DB in free agency

PFF says the Saints should target Colts slot specialist Kenny Moore in free agency, moving Alontae Taylor back where he’s played his best football:

Dennis Allen has built the New Orleans Saints around his secondary, and fans should expect him to continue to pour resources into that position group in 2024. That starts with free agency. According to Pro Football Focus analyst Gordon McGuinness, their top target should be Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II. A specialist in guarding the slot, Moore could be a big upgrade in that role over Alontae Taylor. Here’s what McGuinness had to say in making his case:

2022 second-round draft pick Alontae Taylor has struggled from the slot through his first two NFL seasons. With the way the slot cornerback market usually shakes out, the Saints might be able to bring in some competition without spending too much. Kenny Moore II is coming off the highest PFF coverage grade of his career (79.3) in 2023 and would be an immediate upgrade on the inside.

No player was targeted more often in the slot last season than Taylor (96 times, per PFF charting) and he allowed the most catches (65) and yards (672) in the league. The six touchdown receptions he gave up were second-most. Taylor is at his best playing outside where he can use the sideline to his advantage and compete at the catch point further downfield.

Let’s compare that to Moore, who played six fewer snaps in the slot than Taylor and faced 34 fewer targets. Moore allowed 49 receptions for just 399 yards and intercepted nearly as many passes (two) as touchdowns he allowed (three). He missed a dozen tackles this year but played more than 1,000 snaps, so it’s not a bad rate.

Sure, Moore is 30 years old and is likelier to slow down than improve his game. But the Saints need a better answer for covering the slot than playing Taylor out of position. If they do something drastic with Marshon Lattimore and trade him, opening a path for Taylor to start out wide (where he’s played his best football), splurging on a free agent contract with Moore would make sense. PFF projects him to land a two-year, $13.5 million deal in free agency with about $8 million in guarantees, which the Saints could easily fit on their books after reaching salary cap compliance.

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3 last-minute free agent pickups the Saints should target

Two preseason games and weeks of training camp gave us a better idea of what the Saints still need. 3 last-minute free agents they should target before the season starts:

We’ve got a better idea of which positions the New Orleans Saints should reinforce after two preseason games and a month of training camp practices, but time is running out with roster cuts looming a week away — and the start of the regular season sitting just beyond that.

And, as always in the NFL, it all starts in the trenches for the Saints. Their pass rush has been erratic throughout the summer and poor depth along the offensive line is a problem that isn’t going away. There are other areas of need, but those should be top priority. It’s possible that young guys can continue to develop and overcome those concerns, but the Saints have enough resources and high standards that shouldn’t let them feeling content about who they have in the building.

New Orleans has been proactive in bringing in veteran backups like linebacker Jaylon Smith, safety Johnathan Abram, running back Darell Williams, and wide receiver/returns specialist Lynn Bowden Jr. That same enterprising approach should extend to other positions.

The latest estimates from Over The Cap give the Saints $11.3 million to spend on fine-tuning their team, and none of these players would break the bank. With that in mind, here’s a quick list of veteran free agents who make a lot of sense for what the Saints still need to build this team:

Alabama prospect pursuit: 2024 elite talents the Crimson Tide want

Alabama has 15 verbal commits in the 2024 recruiting class. Roll Tide Wire takes a closer look at which prospects the Alabama coaching staff is currently pursuing.

Alabama has 15 commits in the 2024 recruiting class. The Crimson Tide are poised to have a good finish to the class by the time national signing day rolls around.

The coaching staff has prioritized the individual players and their abilities rather than rankings. Meaning Alabama is not interested in signing a set number of players or fulfilling a certain ranking. There are several highly ranked recruits Alabama has targeted while others are ranked relatively low.

Needless to say, Alabama has continued to recruit effortlessly to fill needs in the 2024 recruiting class. In 2023, Alabama finished with the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. That is a major reason why Alabama is patiently evaluating and recruiting prospects in the 2024 recruiting class.

Roll Tide Wire takes a look at some of the recruits that Alabama is recruiting to join the 2024 recruiting class.

Saints draft plans start with ‘adding to the trenches’ with DT, OG picks

ESPN’s Jordan Reid reports the New Orleans Saints’ draft plans starts with ‘adding to the trenches,’ targeting prospects at offensive guard and defensive tackle:

Few teams invest as many resources in their offensive and defensive lines as the New Orleans Saints, and that trend could continue in the 2023 NFL draft. It’s abundantly clear that the team needs another defensive tackle (and maybe a defensive end, too). They also can’t count on good health at the offensive guard spots.

So it makes sense that ESPN’s Jordan Reid has linked them to a couple of prospects who could address those needs in the first two rounds, citing a source who says the Saints plan to start this year’s draft by “Adding to the trenches.” Reid shared some insight on what New Orleans is thinking two weeks out from the 2023 draft, highlighting a couple of options in the first and second rounds at both positions:

Expect New Orleans to be aggressive with fortifying both lines, especially after losing some key players on the defensive side. On the O-line, left guard is a big question mark, and the Saints could add competition with Andrus Peat. O’Cyrus Torrence (Florida) could be a Day 1 option, while Steve Avila is an intriguing Day 2 candidate. But defensive tackle is their biggest need, and Mazi Smith (Michigan) could be in play for the team at No. 29. Keeanu Benton (Wisconsin) is a second-day possibility there as a plug-and-play starter inside.

Those players all fit what the Saints like to look for. Torrence, Avila, and Benton were standouts at the Senior Bowl practices in February. Smith and Benton were both team captains last season. All four of them hit the height-weight-length thresholds the Saints value at guard and defensive tackle, though Relative Athletic Score results put only Benton (8.9) and Avila (8.49) closest to the threshold we’ve seen the Saints use in the past. Torrence’s results are beneath their usual standards, and Smith didn’t complete his timing drills to factor into RAS.

Still, these four players check enough boxes that they should all be in consideration once the Saints are on the clock. Getting Torrence at No. 29 and Benton at No. 40 (or reversing it with Smith in the first round and Avila in the second) would have things moving right on track in New Orleans. But that depends on those prospects being available at those spots, and we shouldn’t be surprised if the Saints make a trade to leapfrog competitors and get their guy. That’s what we have them doing in our latest mock draft. Reid’s line about expecting the Saints “to be aggressive with fortifying both lines” stands out in that regard.

What could they do in the later rounds? One position Reid zeroed in on is running back, which also checks out. The Saints have done a lot of work on this year’s prospects and they could add one of them in rounds three or four. Two names Reid linked to them: TCU’s Kendre Miller and UAB’s DeWayne McBride, both of whom have made pre-draft visits to the team facility.

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4 Saints free agency targets who won’t impact 2024 comp picks

The Saints could be big players in the next wave of free agency with about $16 million to spend. Here are four targets who won’t count against their 2024 comp picks:

The New Orleans Saints aren’t finished in free agency just yet. We’re still waiting on contract numbers and salary cap hits for recently-signed players like defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, punter Blake Gillikin, and offensive tackle Storm Norton, but the Saints should have approximately $16 million to work with by now — making them big players in the next wave of free agency. There is room for more upgrades after signing defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd and running back Jamaal Williams.

But they don’t want to be too active and jeopardize the multiple 2024 compensatory draft picks they’re projected to receive for losing so many free agents of their own. Fortunately, there’s a loophole: targeting players who were let go by their previous teams, who do not count against 2024 comp picks. Here’s a quick look at four veteran options who could help the Saints get where they want to go:

Ezekiel Elliott is one free agent the Saints should avoid

Recently-released Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is a great player, but he’s also one free agent the New Orleans Saints should try to avoid:

We know the New Orleans Saints are looking for help at running back — they struggled to play the style of run-first football Dennis Allen envisioned last season, and now they’re going into 2023 with a lengthy suspension looming for Alvin Kamara, who hasn’t been as effective in recent years without a quality player to split carries with. Now that free agency has begun in earnest, it’s easy to connect some dots. Just don’t try and connect the Saints to Ezekiel Elliott.

Sure, on paper, the move makes a certain kind of sense. Elliott is the most accomplished running back on the market. He also would not factor into the 2024 compensatory draft pick formula after being let go by the Dallas Cowboys. That appeals to teams like the Saints, who could receive the maximum four comp picks in next year’s cycle. Elliott can lead a backfield without shaking up any long-term plans. Plus, he’s a former Ohio State Buckeye and college teammate of Michael Thomas and Marshon Lattimore. The Columbus-to-New Orleans pipeline is well established.

But Elliott might be cooked. He’s twice led the league in rushing attempts (in 2016 and 2018), and he’s only averaged fewer than 15 carries per game once, when he paced 13.9 each week in 2021. He and Mark Ingram are the only active players with more than 1,800 career rushing attempts. The Cowboys ran him into the ground and then cut him loose once his production tailed off. Jerry Jones’ loyalty to homegrown talent is well known, but even he wasn’t able to justify keeping Elliott around any longer.

The Saints need to be getting younger and more dynamic at running back. There’s still a role in this league for a short-yardage specialist and reliable pass protector like Elliott, but he doesn’t fit the job description New Orleans should be consulting. There are similar free agents available like former Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets running back James Robinson, who is three years younger than Elliott with 1,300 fewer career carries (and who also won’t cost the Saints a comp pick). Elliott’s resume might be enticing, but it’s also a turnoff.

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1 pending free agent Chargers could target from each NFL team

Here’s a look at one pending free agent from each NFL team that could interest the Chargers.

The Chargers won’t be as aggressive as they have been in recent years regarding signing free agents.

Even after making moves to get cap compliant before the new league year begins on Wednesday, Los Angeles’ priorities will be to re-sign some of their players and extend Justin Herbert.

After that, they should have some spendings available to sign some low-cost players.

That said, here is one pending free agent from each team in the NFL that could be a realistic target for L.A.