Tag: team needs

Ranking the Saints’ most important team needs for 2024

Musts, needs, and wants: Highlighting the New Orleans Saints’ areas of concern for 2024 with targets for free agency and the NFL draft

It’s no secret that the New Orleans Saints are a flawed team: their three-year playoffs drought is proof of it. So changes are obviously going to be needed this offseason. But where to begin? Who could cure what ails them?

Some disgruntled fans are calling for an overhaul of team leadership with a new head coach, general manager, and quarterback, but none of those things are going to happen this offseason. We need to keep expectations realistic.

Here are some positions of need the Saints should prioritize in the spring, along with realistic free agent targets and possible draft prospects who might be available when New Orleans is on the clock.

New Orleans Saints 7-round mock draft to jumpstart the offseason

Big changes are in store for the New Orleans Saints. Here’s our first 7-round mock draft to jumpstart the 2024 offseason:

The New Orleans Saints’ season is over and their spot in the draft’s first round is decided. That means it is time to start the season that his been more fun to watch the last couple of season, it’s time for mock drafts!

The goal for this draft is pretty clear for the Saints: address the trenches. They have players getting old or looking lost out there at times and need to bring in some fresh meat on both sides of the ball. There are other spots that could be addressed, but that should be the key. How the board falls could also really affect how the Saints look to attack this draft. And of course it all kicks off after free agency, giving New Orleans an opportunity to address their needs sooner.

Here is a starting point of expectations for this year with a full 7-round Saints mock draft:

5 free agents Saints fans should watch in Cowboys vs. Packers

5 pending free agents New Orleans Saints fans should watch in Sunday’s Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers playoff game:

The New Orleans Saints are stuck watching the playoffs from home, but it’s a good opportunity for fans to scout some of the top players headed for free agency — and both the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers have some playmakers who could interest the Saints if they hit the open market.

Here are five pending free agents we’ll be looking for on Sunday afternoon:

4 soon-to-be free agents to watch in Chiefs vs. Dolphins

4 soon-to-be free agents for New Orleans Saints fans to watch in Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins, including former Ragin’ Cajuns OL Robert Hunt:

The Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs boast two of the strongest rosters you’ll find around the NFL, and both teams have some pending free agents who could be of interest to the New Orleans Saints. With the Saints looking to get faster and more athletic defensively while improving their run game on offense, here are some players we’re watching closely during Saturday night’s wild-card round playoff game:

Colts’ top needs entering 2024 offseason

Taking a look at the top needs for the Colts entering the 2024 offseason.

With the 2023 season officially over for the Indianapolis Colts, they are officially in offseason mode.

As 2024 begins, Indianapolis will look to add to its roster and strengthen some perceived weaknesses through free agency, trades and the NFL draft.

With that being said, here are some of the top needs for Indianapolis moving forward:

What are the Colts’ remaining needs after 2023 NFL draft?

Taking a quick look at the needs for the Colts following the 2023 NFL draft.

The Indianapolis Colts addressed nearly every possible need during the 2023 NFL draft, which will happen when a team has 12 selections.

The starting lineup and depth chart are pretty stable outside of a few spots, and it’s likely the training camp competitions will give us a more clear picture at certain positions.

The Colts will continue to look for talent across the roster so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they added a veteran or two leading into training camp.

Here’s a quick look at the top remaining needs for the Colts following the draft:

3 most important New Orleans Saints team needs after 2023 NFL draft

After trading away Adam Trautman, tight end ranks No. 1 among the most important New Orleans Saints team needs after 2023 NFL draft:

What’s next for the New Orleans Saints? With the 2023 NFL draft in rearview and the 2024 compensatory free agents deadline soon to pass, they’re positioned well to make some new additions — the Saints should have about $11 million to spend on veteran players once all of their draft picks and undrafted rookies are under contract.

They also have six open spots on the 90-man offseason roster, so there’s room for more additions. Some players will be signed after tryouts at rookie minicamp in a few weeks. But the big moves are going to happen sooner. And it’s pretty clear where the Saints should start, having traded their No. 2 tight end Adam Trautman to the Denver Broncos late in the draft. But which areas are their top positions of need? Here’s where they should get busy:

Where the Saints stand heading into Round 2 of the 2023 NFL draft

Where the New Orleans Saints stand heading into Round 2 of the 2023 NFL draft: Recapping the first round, order of their remaining picks, and top team needs

We’ve got everything you need to know about where the New Orleans Saints stand heading into Round 2 of the 2023 NFL draft. Between recapping the first round of selections, the order of their remaining picks, and the top team needs the Saints must still address, be sure to get up to speed before the second day of the draft kicks off:

Broncos’ team needs in 2023 NFL draft

Do you agree with these positions of need for the Broncos going into the NFL draft?

Denver Broncos general manager George Paton only has five picks to use in the 2023 NFL draft this week, so he will need to get the most out of the club’s mid-round picks.

Denver did a good job patching up holes during free agency, so the Broncos do not have many big draft needs going into the draft. Denver does have a few positions of need that could be addressed, though.

Here’s a quick look at our list of the top five draft needs for the Broncos.

  • Cornerback: CB2-caliber defensive back to pair with Pat Surtain, bumping Damarri Mathis to CB3 duties.
  • Defensive end: Starting-caliber player to help replace DeShawn Williams on the defensive line.
  • Center: Real competition for Lloyd Cushenberry.
  • Running back: RB3 with upside to pair with Samaje Perine early in the season while Javonte Williams recovers from knee injury.
  • Offensive line depth: Backup swing tackle and guard depth.

There are, of course, many other positions Denver could target, ranging from pass rusher to tight end. The Broncos have said they plan to draft “the best player available” at each pick, so the team won’t be reaching to fill needs during the draft.

If the team can walk away from the draft with several of these positions solidified, though, the roster will look much better going into training camp.

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New Orleans Saints’ team needs entering 2023 NFL draft

The New Orleans Saints’ top team needs entering the 2023 NFL draft include upgrades along the DL, TE, and improved depth at LB, DB, and WR:

The New Orleans Saints did a great job addressing their needs in free agency, holding onto some of their most important players while plugging holes on the depth chart with veteran signings. That significantly reshaped their list of team needs going into Round 1 of the 2023 NFL draft.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis may have downplayed the priority with which they need to address some concerns in his pre-draft press conference, but some areas remain more worrisome than others. Here’s a quick look at the Saints’ most pressing team needs (plus some early-round targets to monitor) in the final hours leading up to the draft: