Tag: Trey Hendrickson

Trey Hendrickson tied for the most sacks in the NFL

New Orleans Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson is tied with Myles Garrett for the NFL lead in sacks, at least until Aaron Donald plays.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”ENhb6gUYvE-1046407-7498″]

Don’t look now, but Trey Hendrickson is tied with Cleveland Browns $125 million man Myles Garrett for the league lead in sacks (9.5) after his impressive day against the Atlanta Falcons. The New Orleans Saints pass rusher has really come into his own in 2020, and he’s on track to cash in during the offseason.

But he and Garrett may not hold onto their lead for long. Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald has already bagged 9 sacks on the year so far, and he’s waiting until his matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night to get back in the race.

Another player in the thick of it is T.J. Watt, who has 9 sacks of his own with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He didn’t add a sack this week but seems to always be on the verge of notching a couple of takedowns at a moment’s notice.

It’ll be interesting to see who ends up on top. Garrett and Hendrickson are in very different situations, where Garrett is his team’s best pass-rush threat and commands the most attention, whereas Hendrickson is the second or even third threat rushing off the edge for New Orleans. He’s seeing more favorable blocking assignments in that role, and should continue to rack up the sacks as the season progresses down the stretch.

[vertical-gallery id=40581]

Stay or go? Looking ahead to Saints’ pending 2021 free agents

Trey Hendrickson has seized his opportunity with the New Orleans Saints, but other pending 2021 free agents must step up to get re-signed.

Which free agents should the New Orleans Saints re-sign in 2021? There are a number of hurdles ahead of them before it’s time to make those decisions, like finishing out the 2020 season and navigating the lowered 2021 salary cap. It could result in some cap casualties, which muddies the situation for players whose contracts are expiring.

Still, here’s our take on who should stay or go at this point in the season:

2021 Pro Bowl ballot snubs Trey Hendrickson, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Emmanuel Sanders

The 2021 Pro Bowl ballot failed to list New Orleans Saints playmakers like Trey Hendrickson and Emmanuel Sanders, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

The NFL revealed its 2021 Pro Bowl ballot (the numbering convention still doesn’t really make sense, does it?), and there are plenty of familiar names for New Orleans Saints to vote for. Pro Bowl veterans like Drew Brees (13 Pro Bowl nods), Cameron Jordan (5 appearances), Alvin Kamara (3 trips in 3 years in the NFL) each made the list of nominees alongside their teammates, including special teams aces Wil Lutz, Deonte Harris, and J.T. Gray, each of whom were selected for last year’s all-star event. 11 different Saints players were voted into the 2020 game, second-most in the league (the Baltimore Ravens had 13).

But there were a couple of glaring snubs: defensive end Trey Hendrickson and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders top the list, as were nickel back C.J. Gardner-Johnson and fullback Michael Burton. It’s ridiculous that Hendrickson didn’t get a mention. He’s tied with Jason Pierre-Paul for the sixth-most sacks in the league (7.5) but technically hasn’t been a starter with Marcus Davenport back in the lineup. The same issue holds true on offense, where Sanders has taken a backseat to Tre’Quan Smith, apparently because Smith plays more frequently, though not as well.

Another problem is the antiquated roster setup that puts players with very different responsibilities in conflict with each other, like outside linebacker Demario Davis, who is competing for votes against pass rushers like Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree. The issue is compounded by the NFL treating it as if every team fields three linebackers on a majority of downs. If the system they’re using makes backup linebacker Kaden Elliss (5 snaps played) eligible for the Pro Bowl and not Gardner-Johnson (503 snaps played), well, it clearly has some bugs to work out.

Now that our gripes are out of the way: here’s which Saints players you can actually vote for to be recognized at this year’s Pro Bowl, listed in order of appearance on the ballot:

Midseason Saints progress report: Grading offense, defense, special teams

The New Orleans Saints are 6-2 with eight games left ahead of them, but how do the offense, defense, and special teams units grade out?

How do the New Orleans Saints grade out after eight games? With eight more still to go, they seem to be getting healthy and playing hot at the perfect time. But it’s worth looking back on their full body of work before rating each phase of the game, so here are our thoughts on the Saints offense, defense, and special teams units at midseason.

PFF: Saints pass rush is the best in the NFL since Marcus Davenport’s debut

Pro Football Focus says the New Orleans Saints pressure rate leads the entire NFL since pass rusher Marcus Davenport returned from injuries.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”o3TpZjdtR9-1033088-7498″]

How important has Marcus Davenport been for the New Orleans Saints defense? The third-year pass rusher was frustrated by injuries early this season, and didn’t dress out for a game until Week 5 — but he’s transformed the Saints pass rush since getting on the field.

Pro Football Focus credits the Saints with a league-high pressure rate of 48% since Davenport’s Week 5 debut, above a couple of ferocious defenses like T.J. Watt’s Pittsburgh Steelers (46%) and Shaquill Barrett’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers (45%).

Sure, Davenport’s personal numbers won’t blow you away: PFF has charted him with 15 total pressures in four games, including just two sacks (remember, they round half-sacks up to full-sacks). But the force he adds to the Saints’ defensive line helps everyone around him, including fellow defensive ends Trey Hendrickson and Cameron Jordan.

Hendrickson ranks third in the NFL in sacks, with four sacks and 17 total pressures since Davenport’s return. He and Davenport have been splitting reps at an almost even 50/50. Across from (and sometimes next to) them, Jordan has collected 20 pressures in that same time, including a pair of sacks.

Davenport’s influence extends to the interior line, too. Defensive tackle David Onyemata only has one sack to his credit in their last four games, but he’s totaled 15 pressures in his own right. And as we’ve seen in the team pressure rate, the Saints are playing their best football with Davenport in the fold.

Here’s hoping he can stay healthy the rest of the way. He’s shed the “Two Firsts” moniker given his high level of play, but Davenport is one of several young defenders the Saints will need firing on full cylinders in the playoffs, along with cornerback Marshon Lattimore. These players are so talented and have such high potential that they can win games on their own, or put teammates in position to do so. We just need to see it when it matters most.

[vertical-gallery id=40144]

The NFL’s Secret Superstars of Week 9

Every week, there are players whose performances don’t get the praise they deserve. Here are the NFL’s Secret Superstars of Week 9.

Every NFL season features a certain number of players who come out of nowhere to surprise and entertain at a level we did not expect. Perhaps they’re veterans for whom everything finally clicks. Perhaps they’re rookies who show that the NFL curve can be navigated at a quicker pace by some more than others.

Whatever the circumstances, there were several players who either expanded their 2019 performances, or came into the NFL as first-year players in 2020 and showed that they didn’t need a preseason to ball out at a professional level.

Here are the NFL’s Secret Superstars of Week 9.

Trey Hendrickson ranked 3rd in the NFL in sacks

The New Orleans Saints have seen fourth-year defensive end Trey Hendrickson blossom in 2020, matching his career sacks total in just 8 games

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”yvcHH33yuC-1030825-7498″]

There aren’t many players listed above Trey Hendrickson among this year’s NFL sacks leaders, and they’re each household names: Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett, who have tied for the league lead with 9.0 sacks.

For his part, Hendrickson is leading the New Orleans Saints defense with 7.5 takedowns, third-most around the NFL. That’s more than a host of better-known competitors like T.J. Watt and Za’Darius Smith (7.0 sacks each), Khalil Mack and Jason Pierre-Paul (6.5 each), and his own All-Pro teammate Cameron Jordan (2.5). And Hendrickson isn’t finished yet.

“I’m hungry. I don’t think anybody in a race wants to take third,” Hendrickson told Nola.com’s Rod Walker on Monday.

Hendrickson, 25, was one of the under-sung names in the lauded 2017 Saints draft class — selected after more prominent draftees like Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, Marcus Williams, and Alvin Kamara. But he’s really come into his own in the final year of his rookie contract, having bagged as many sacks in his last eight games as he had in his first three seasons (34 games, including the playoffs) put together.

It might be tough for the Saints to re-sign Hendrickson in the offseason, but that’s a problem for another day. For now, they’re enjoying the fireworks along with everyone else, and waiting to see if Hendrickson can keep up the pace. Right now, he’s on track to end the year with 15.0 sacks, tying Jordan’s own career-high.

[listicle id=40101]

Studs and Duds, Week 9: Saints standouts from Bucs’ sweep

The New Orleans Saints swept the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9 with standout performances from Trey Hendrickson and Marshon Lattimore.

Some members of the New Orleans Saints impressed more than others in Week 9’s victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it was very much a team effort in their 38-3 landslide win. The Saints finally put together a complete game with big plays on offense and defense, plus some help from the special teams units, to put this one away early.

Here are our picks for Week 9’s studs and duds:

Amid a contract year, Saints safety Marcus Williams changes agents

New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Williams fired his old agent and hired a new one while playing out the final year of his rookie contract.

[jwplayer Cj1MRWEH-ThvAeFxT]

Marcus Williams entered the 2020 season as one of the highest priorities to re-sign with the New Orleans Saints, behind only running back Alvin Kamara and linebacker Demario Davis. Kamara and Davis each signed long-term contract extensions before the season kicked off, but Williams hasn’t played up to his potential in the weeks since — or even playing up to the level of someone who should be retained by the team.

So he’s probably become frustrated with any contract talks with the Saints, or a lack thereof. On Wednesday, Williams fired his agent (Todd France of Athletes First) and chose a new one (Tory Dandy of CAA, where France previously worked), though he must wait five days per NFLPA rules before making the switch final.

Williams’ decision was reported by Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal, which was confirmed by Amie Just of Nola.Com.

Just added that Dandy has an impressive resume of clients currently signed with the Saints, including tight end Jared Cook, rookie guard Cesar Ruiz, and defensive backs P.J. Williams and Marshon Lattimore. France, who had represented Williams before the changeup, counts wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and safety D.J. Swearinger among his clients.

Maybe it leads to some momentum, one way or another. Williams was a great player for the Saints during his first three years, with the only real knock against him being occasional lapses in tackle discipline. But this season his strengths have receded and he’s allowed too many big plays through the air, whether on busted coverages or by being fouled for holding or defensive pass interference. It’s early, and he has plenty of time to turn it around, but early on he’s been a liability.

With also-talented safeties like Malcolm Jenkins and C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the fold, maybe Williams could be shopped around before the Nov. 3 NFL trade deadline. Or maybe his new agent could ask for a trade. At this point, we can only speculate.

[vertical-gallery id=39038]

The Athletic proposes big-time Saints trade for Texans star J.J. Watt

The New Orleans Saints were pegged as potential trade partners with the Houston Texans for J.J. Watt, maybe their last remaining trade chip.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”w2Gqmp9DbW-988986-7498″]

This year’s NFL trade deadline is scheduled for Nov. 3, giving teams less than two weeks to cut a deal before everyone must hang up their phones and unplug the fax machines. That makes trade speculation welcome fodder for everyone within the league’s orbit, and the always-gambling New Orleans Saints are again at the center of guessing-games around the NFL.

The Athletic posited one big move for the black and gold: a trade with the 1-5 Houston Texans to acquire superstar pass rusher J.J. Watt, in exchange for a second round draft pick and a conditional third rounder in 2021. Here’s why they think Houston would make the trade after ex-coach/G.M. Bill O’Brien lost all their picks on his way out the door:

“The way things stand, the Texans don’t pick until the third round in the 2021 draft. Houston doesn’t have a lot of options to acquire significant draft capital. Watt presents one chip, though. He averaged eight games per season from 2016 to 2019 but is healthy this year and has played well. One option would be to pay Watt $17.5 million next year and hope he stays healthy for a team that contends for a Super Bowl. The other would be to sell high now and acquire much-needed draft capital. Given Watt’s age (31) and injury history, a first-round pick seems unlikely. But could the Texans get a second and a third from a needy team that’s ready to win now? Maybe.”

From New Orleans’ perspective: yes, adding Watt to a surging defense line would be nice to see. While he isn’t the same game-breaking player he once was after a series of injuries, Watt can still play. He leads the Texans with 21 quarterback pressures per Pro Football Focus, which would also lead the Saints. In New Orleans, he could make a formidable rotation along with starters Cameron Jordan and Trey Hendrickson, plus Marcus Davenport.

And there are plenty of snaps to go around. In Week 5’s game with the Los Angeles Chargers (in which the Saints defense pressured quarterback Justin Herbert on 52.6% of his dropbacks, a season-high), Jordan and Hendrickson each played 50 or more snaps, with Davenport getting 21 plays in his first game back from injury. Backup Carl Granderson rounded out the group with a dozen reps of his own.

If Watt were added to the mix, Jordan and Hendrickson could each see slightly lighter workloads while Davenport absorbs Granderson’s opportunities. Watt would be worked in to keep everyone else fresh until he and Davenport are each comfortable (and healthy) enough in the scheme for the Saints to give all four players near-equal minutes.

And we saw how desperate the Saints were before the season to add another pass rusher with their pursuit of Jadeveon Clowney. If they were willing to include a second round draft pick and a player (possibly defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins) in their planned sign-and-trade to acquire Clowney, they’d likely be game for a less-complicated effort in picking up Watt.

Sure, the financial aspect of this is mind-boggling. Watt has a $17.5 million salary cap hit for 2021, the final year of his contract, and that would have to be reckoned with. but at this point in the season the Saints only be on the hook for about $10.01 million in Watt’s base salary for the remainder of 2020. That’s very manageable despite the Saints only having $7.89 million or so to spend right now. They can make it work.

And with maybe their last shot at a Super Bowl with Drew Brees on the line, it’s a price they just might be motivated to pay.

[vertical-gallery id=39038]