The Saints had the week off in Week 8, and in this case, the break may have helped more than hurt. New Orleans comes out of the bye sitting at pick 8 in the draft order, which puts the team in a strong spot to start thinking about first-round options.
Two names stand out as possibilities: wide receiver Charlie Becker and cornerback Kelley Jones.
Becker would be the more surprising swing on the board, especially after the Saints already used a first-round pick on Jordyn Tyson. Tyson has not played yet, but he is expected to be the clear WR2 on this roster.
Even so, the Saints could find themselves needing another receiver again. Devaughn Vele could be traded before the deadline, and he turns 29 this year.
If that happens, New Orleans would still be looking for another player who can pair with Chris Olave and Tyson, and Becker fits that idea.
At Indiana, Becker has been the kind of receiver who can tilt a game by himself. He has a reputation for making clutch catches, blowing past defenders, winning with route running, hauling in difficult throws, and absorbing contact without losing the ball. He’s the full package at wideout.
Taking another receiver would feel like a luxury, even if Vele is moved, but the Saints do have the cap space to handle most of the roster through free agency. That gives them room to chase a player like Becker if they want to keep loading up on offense.
The other direction is defense, and that’s where Kelley Jones comes in. Cornerback is a clear offseason need for New Orleans.
Kool-Aid McKinstry still hasn’t shown he can be a steady CB1, and the depth behind him isn’t strong enough to cover the CB2 spot right now. If the Saints can’t make enough progress with the pass rush, the secondary has to become the priority.
Jones could be exactly the kind of corner a new defensive staff would like. Kellen Moore has not given any indication that he’ll be back after this year, and if the defense shifts back toward a man-heavy approach, Jones would fit that style. His length is a major selling point, and that’s the kind of trait front offices tend to love.
In Other News...
Saints Suddenly Face A Browns QB Twist That May Change Sunday
The Browns quarterback picture took a quick turn this week after Deshaun Watson was placed in concussion protocol following their Week 8 loss, only to clear the protocol in time to potentially be active for Week 9. For a Saints team preparing for Cleveland, that kind of late-week movement matters, even if it does not yet change the official depth chart heading into Sunday.
Shedeur Sanders remains the Browns designated starter for the matchup in New Orleans, keeping the focus on the rookie as the Saints game approaches. Watsons status still leaves the door open for another shift soon after, with the expectation that he could be back in line to start in Week 10. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Just Made A Backfield Move Fans Didnt See Coming
The Saints have been reshaping their ground game in a hurry, and the latest move came with a jolt: Kendre Miller is out after seven games, even though he had led the team in rushing attempts and rushing yards. For a backfield that has already gone through a coaching change with the firing of run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti, it is another sign that New Orleans is not waiting around to see if the current formula eventually clicks.
Miller, a third-round pick in the 2023 draft, never quite found his footing in New Orleans because of injuries and inconsistency, and the Saints have now added another layer to the competition by claiming Audric Estime off waivers. The roster churn leaves the backfield in flux as the team tries to sort out who fits best in the weeks ahead, and it also raises the possibility that more moves are coming as New Orleans continues to rework the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Defense Found Bulletin Board Material At The Perfect Time
A quiet pregame exchange has given the Saints defense a little extra edge at just the right moment. Shedeur Sanders was non-committal when asked about New Orleans defense, and Carl Granderson said the remark landed in a way that can help sharpen a group looking for any edge it can get. For a defense that has been searching for cleaner stretches of play, even a small slight can become useful fuel.
The timing matters because the Saints are coming off a rough outing against Pittsburgh, where the defense did not do enough to consistently get off the field. Granderson pointed to Sanders comments and other chirping around the team as part of the motivation, and New Orleans will be hoping that added edge shows up on the field rather than just in the buildup. [Read more 🡒]