The New Orleans Saints finished the 2023 season with a 9-8 record and missed the playoffs for the third straight year. It was an up and down year for the Saints as they started the year with a 2-0 record, then dropped to 2-2, and were eventually 5-5 through 10 games and you get how their year went. They had some high moments throughout the year – such as a 34-0 shutout win in New England in which they allowed just 8 first downs while forcing 3 turnovers, and like the week 8 win over the Colts – in which they had one of the best offensive performances of not just their season – but of anybody throughout the entire 2023 season. But as we enter the 2024 regular season I simply ask the question – what are the New Orleans Saints doing? How are they trying to actively get better and trying to win a super bowl under head coach Dennis Allen? Because to be completely honest – this roster is one of the least inspiring in all of football. And in today’s video we’re going to break down what we can expect from the 2024 Saints and if they can get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020 – when they were eliminated by the Bucs in the divisional round of the playoffs. There is a lot to breakdown with this team so let’s dive right in
When you take a look back at the 2023 Saints season – their most impressive win was a 23-13 win over the Bucs in week 17 in which the defense forced 4 turnovers and they improved from 7-8 to 8-8 entering week 18. And I credit them in a big way. Beating the division winner – in their place – let alone by double digits – is a huge accomplishment for any NFL team. But after that – their most impressive win would probably be over the Colts in week 8 – which again – credit where it’s due – their offense played their tail off that day. But aside from those two wins – their other 7 wins were all against teams that had a top 10 draft pick. Their other 7 wins came against Bryce Young twice, Tyson Bagent, Tommy Devito, Ryan Tannehill, Mac Jones, and Desmond Ridder. And that’s my biggest concern with the Saints entering 2024. I have no doubt this team has a solid floor. And I have no doubt this team will get to at least 7 wins – hell maybe 8 or 9 – but when it comes hell or high water – do you trust Derek Carr and Dennis Allen to pull through and win a big game? That to me – is the biggest question surrounding the Saints this year. Now – to be fair in recapping their 2023 season – Derek Carr got hurt against the Packers in week 3 – and there is a case to be made that if he doesn’t get hurt – they win in Lambeau and start 3-0. I did at least want to include that because I’m sure Saints fans were probably thinking it. Now to break down their free agency period and what they did before the draft – well there’s not a lot to write home about.
The best players they lost in free agency were Malcolm Roach who went to Denver, Jameis Winston who went to Cleveland, and Andrus Peat who went to Las Vegas. And all of these guys – including Zack Baun, corner Lonnie Johnson, and safety Marcus Maye – all went elsewhere too – but they’re probably going to be backups with their new teams. So New Orleans didn’t really lose anybody big in free agency – and depending how much emphasis you place on a backup quarterback in today’s era could determine whether or not you consider Jameis Winston a big loss. But the point is – most of the 2023 team is going to be back. Now – if you know anything about the Saints and how they operate under GM Mickey Loomis – they have a unique – way that they go about spending their money. And it’s that they max out the cap every year and don’t really plan ahead. And to be completely honest – that’s been my frustration with the Saints over the past few years because Sean Payton and Drew Brees are no longer there to cover this way of building a football team. And since Drew retired – they’ve been hovering between average and just above average – but never good enough to win big games. However – I really liked what they did in free agency – with the limited assets they had – in bringing in Chase Young and WIllie Gay Jr to help out the defense. Willie should be a solid 3rd linebacker along side Demario Davis and Pete Werner and quietly – I really like this linebacking trio. Now with Demario being 35 – it has to be mentioned that he is obviously getting old – and that a drop off will probably happen at some point – and he is the oldest player on the roster. But Demario has played the best football of his career since becoming a Saint several years ago and he is amongst the best linebackers in football. And while WIllie isn’t on the same level as Demario – I like the addition especially for the cost as the Saints gave him a one year prove it deal for $3 million dollars. I also really like the Chase Young signing because Chase had a career high in pressures – and a tie for career high in sacks last year and any time you have a player that has showed as high of flashes as Chase has throughout his career – I’m all for a one year deal. And if you give a player like Chase – a one year $13 million dollar deal – honestly I don’t care if it’s fully guaranteed or if only 50% of its guaranteed because in the best case scenario – the player proves themself and they get a long term deal – and in the worst case – they’re gone in a year anyway. So I really liked what the Saints did in free agency with the limited assets they had by bringing in both – Willie Gay and Chase Young.
Defensive coordinator Joe Woods is back for his second season with the team and the Saints play a lot of cover 1 and cover 3 – meaning they run a lot of middle of the field closed concepts. And I would expect a lot of the same from the Saints in 2024. Not just because Joe Woods is back – but because a lot of their defense is going to be the same as last year. And bringing in Chase Young isn’t going to change the defense from calling a lot of cover 1 to quarter quarter half or to any other coverage. Now the 2023 Saints finished 8th in points allowed per game and if this team is going to go to the playoffs and have any sort of success – they’re going to have to finish top 10 in points allowed per game – again. And what you may not know is – the Saints were top 10 in both offensive points per game last year and defensive points per game last year. But when the Saints defense allowed 18 or more points in a game in 2023 – New Orleans was just 1-8 with their lone win coming over the Colts in week 8. So when they were accumulating all of their wins in 2023 – outside of the Colts game – it was most of the time – against young quarterbacks that couldn’t move the ball against this defense. And the receivers some of these guys were throwing to would also show that – like when they played the Panthers, Giants, or Titans. We will dive into the Saints schedule later in the video – but the front 4 is going to have to get after the quarterback this year. And often. And I know I have my gripes with how Mickey Loomis goes about running his team from a salary cap standpoint – and I know some Saints fans are fed up as well – but the Saints pass rush this year – and hell – their entire front 7 – is going to be a problem. Obviously Cam Jordan isn’t the same player he was 5 or 6 years ago as he is now a Wiley old vet at 35 years old – but he played injured for a lot of the 2023 season – and I think he can still get 6 or 7 sacks this year. They also have a very underrated player in Carl Granderson who led the team in pressures last year with 58 – and Carl was rewarded with a 4 year contract extension last September. And I don’t like to harp too much on guys – as much as voice my concerns – so a big credit to Mickey Loomis for paying his top pass rusher before that number would have went up as they locked him in at $13 million per year. And when you have 3 legit pass rushing options in Granderson – who by the way is probably the most famous player to play for the university of Wyoming in the NFL, Chase Young, and Cam Jordan – well I really like their options especially for a team who plays a lot of man to man coverage and for a team that relies on getting home. They also have 2023 first round defensive tackle Bryan Bresse – who had 4.5 sacks from the interior as a rookie and over 30 pressures contributing as well – and I really really like the Saints front 7. I have my concerns with the Saints secondary as Marshon Lattimore has played in just 17 games over the past two years and not only that – but he is entering year 8 and any time a corner in today’s era is entering year 7 or anything beyond year 7 – I start to worry about Father Time catching up to them. Tyrann Mathieu is also 32 years old and I know he has had a good first two years with the Saints – but like with Damario – we have to note his age because he is no spring chicken. Paulson Adebo has become a good player for the Saints second corner and I think he could be in for a big year. Jordan Howden was good for a 5th round rookie last year and we will see how he plays in year 2 – and while I think the Saints secondary – if all healthy and all playing at their best can be good this year – I really really like their front 4. But they will have their work cut out for them as they do play some very very tough opponents especially early on in the 2024 season.
