4/27/2020
By: Terrill J. Weil
Da Boot Sports!


       The Saints went into the 2020 NFL draft with five picks. After making three draft day trades, they ended up with four players drafted. 
       
     In the first round, with the 24th overall pick, New Orleans shook up the Who Dat Nation as they took Michigan center, Cesar Ruiz. Most fans were hoping for a linebacker in the first round to help the Saints aging and injury prone position.  The Saints drafted center Erik McCoy from Texas A&M last season in the second round. McCoy had a very solid rookie season. Ruiz, 6'3" 307lbs, had a very good three year career for the Wolverines and should be a strong addition to the Saints' offensive line. Some think Ruiz may make the move to guard to contribute as a rookie. 
MY GRADE: B+


       New Orleans had no 2nd round selection this season and got aggressive in the 3rd as they would make a trade with Cleveland to move up in the round.  The move sent their 3rd round pick (88th overall) and their 2021 3rd round pick to the Browns for the 74th overall choice along with 244th overall pick, a 7th rounder. With the pick, the Saints would address their linebacker position by drafting Zack Baun from Wisconsin. Baun actually was projected to go in the first round but still found himself on the draft board. Many feel like his stock fell do to his struggles with man-to-man coverage and often shows trouble shedding offensive lineman blocks. Baun however has some versatility which helps him rush the passer from the edge or during inside stunts. He may have trouble being a large contributor in 2020 as a rookie. 
MY GRADE: B


       The Saints would make their second draft day trade to move back into the 3rd round. It would be another move that seemed to upset fans as they would trade away their remaining picks in the draft  4th rd (130), 5th rd (169), 6th rd (203), and 7th rd (244), to Minnesota to move up to 105 overall. New Orleans would take Adam Trautman, a Tight End from Dayton. Trautman, 6'6" 253lbs, is the first Dayton player to be drafted in 43 years, and has the potential to be a special player for the Saints. He should contribute immediately. Trautman was named the PFL Offensive Player of the Year and first team All-PFL in 2019 after catching 70 passes for 916 yards and 14 touchdowns. He finished his college career with 171 receptions for 2,295 yards and 31 touchdowns. He has also shown solid blocking skills on the line. With both Jared Cook (33 yrs. old) and Josh Hill (29 yrs. old) nearing the end of their careers, talent and youth at the position is much welcomed.
MY GRADE: A


        With many thinking the Saints were finished with the 2020 virtual NFL draft, New Orleans would trade back into the draft for the Houston Texans' 7th round pick (240 overall).  Here New Orleans would grab Mississippi State quarterback Tommy Stevens. The 6 feet 5, 235lbs QB, started his college career at Penn State and was a graduate transfer to Mississippi State. In his only season with the Bulldogs Stevens threw for 1,155 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 381 yards and four scores. It will be interesting to see how he performs in the preseason. He may become a candidate for the practice squad. 
MY GRADE: D+

        

 4/26/2020
By: Terrill J. Weil
Da Boot Sports!   


       It's being reported this morning that the New Orleans Saints are ironing out details on a one year deal that will bring former Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston to the Big Easy. 
      Winston was released by the Buccaneers after the signing of future Hall of Famer Tom Brady. 
     After the Saints chose not to draft a quarterback early in the 2020 draft (taking Tommy Stevens from Mississippi State in the 7th round), it was apparent that a veteran backup was high priority to replace Teddy Bridgewater with only Taysom Hill on the roster as backup to Drew Brees. 

 4/22/2020
By: Terrill J. Weil
Da Boot Sports!     


      The Saints enter the 2020 NFL draft with a tough choice to make with their 1st pick (24th overall).  With only five total picks in the draft, New Orleans will need to concentrate on a few key positions. 
       The Quarterback position is key, at least for the near future.  Drew Brees returned signing a two year contract, but many feel 2020 may be his last.  Teddy Bridgewater was lost to free agency leaving Taysom Hill as the only other quarterback on the roster. Hill is a great athlete, playing a "slash" position for Sean Payton recently, but  has not even shown an ability to be a capable NFL backup. I don't think he is the answer for replacing Brees. Some feel the Saints should look at quarterback in the first round.  Utah State quarterback Jordan Love has been mentioned as a perfect match for New Orleans.  Love, at 6'4" 224 lbs has impressed Sean Payton.  “I see real good arm talent. I see a player that’s got a great release. He can throw from out of the pocket. He can throw inside the pocket,” Payton said. “He turned the ball over a lot this season. I think he was above 30 when you looked at his interceptions and fumbles. They had a coaching change, though, that I think hurt him to some degree. But someone that obviously is a talented prospect that’s probably going to get drafted in the first couple of rounds of this draft, first or second round of this draft.” 
      Having Love learn from Bress for a season or two would be an ideal situation for a young, talented franchise quarterback. 
       Another position the Saints feel the need to address is linebacker. AJ Klein signed with Buffalo. Two of the Saints returning linebackers, All-Pro Demario Davis is 31 yrs old, and Craig Robertson is 32 are up in age and going into their contract year. While Alex Anzalone and Kiko Alonso have both been injury plagued. With no 2nd round pick, does New Orleans choose to grab either Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray or LSU linebacker Patrick Queen? Adding youth at this position is key for this side of the football for the Saints.
        Wide Receiver is a position that just seems to be lacking production.  You can argue that Michael Thomas is probably the best receiver in the NFL today, but after him is a group of young underachievers who seem to struggle with consistency. The team did sign veteran Emmanuel Sanders, however Sanders is 33 years old. Tre'Quan Smith has shown flashes of improvement. But other then Thomas and TEs Jared Cook and Josh Hill, the Saints need another solid weapon here.  Former Destrehan and LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson or Tee Higgins from Clemson may still be on the board when the Saints are up in round 1. Do they grab an explosive young receiver to compliment Thomas?  
       Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis have always done a great job evaluating talent and drafting the right players to fit the team's system and schemes. With the addition of some good free agent and the return of Drew Bress, I'd look for 2020 to be another dynamic season for the New Orleans Saints.