The New Orleans Saints have made waves in free agency, stirring excitement among their fans with a series of strategic signings. On the first day of the legal tampering period, they locked in Travis Etienne, David Edwards, Ryan Wright, and Noah Fant.
They followed up with Kaden Elliss, adding to the buzz. However, not everyone is singing their praises.
Pro Football Focus' Gordon McGuinness isn't as impressed with their moves.
It's important to remember that big-name signings don't always equate to success on the field. While the Saints didn't break the bank, McGuinness' assessment doesn't align with the enthusiasm of Saints fans.
McGuinness awarded the Saints a solid B overall. It's a respectable grade, but fans might argue for a higher mark, especially with the additions of Edwards and Etienne, who were high on their wish lists.
When breaking down the individual signings, McGuinness' grades weren't particularly generous. The Cowboys and Broncos, for example, received similar evaluations for their moves, yet the Broncos ended with a C, while the Cowboys fell a full letter grade below the Saints. This inconsistency makes it challenging to gauge the true impact of the Saints' free agency efforts based solely on these grades.
Despite the fanfare, McGuinness views the signings of Edwards and Etienne as average, noting they might help the run game but don't significantly elevate the team. Fant also received an average grade, with McGuinness suggesting he doesn't significantly impact the team's dynamics. He even mentioned that the Saints may have "overcommitted" to Edwards.
Kaden Elliss, however, stood out in McGuinness' analysis. His back-to-back top-12 finishes in Wins Above Replacement among linebackers over the past two seasons earned him a higher grade. It's a testament to Elliss' value and potential impact on the team's success.
In sum, while the Saints' free agency moves have sparked excitement, the expert analysis presents a more tempered view. The true test will be how these players fit into the team's strategy and contribute on the field.