Overhaul: New Orleans Saints’ Receiver Room Change
The New Orleans Saints completed their receiver overhaul this offseason with the addition of former Browns’ star Jarvis Landry. Krebs’ latest Monday NFL Column analyzes the impact of changing an entire position group and how it should play in the NFC.
The best teams in the NFL self-identify during the off-season, figure out their strengths and weaknesses, outside of media interest, and work towards improving the overall production of that unit. The New Orleans Saints came into the off-season with middling receivers that were dependent on a full comeback of Michael Thomas to his Offensive Player of the Year form and entered with a core that can rival nearly any team in the league. The Saints determined their best course of action for improving their roster would be to address their lack of star-studded wide receiving. They succeeded in doing that, creating high expectations for the fanbase and team itself.
New Orleans added Ohio State’s Chris Olave, one of the draft’s best receivers, in the first round and signed veteran Jarvis Landry. Both players will be cogs of the offense despite not taking up more than seven million on the salary cap (per Spotrac) yet they are a prominent group. Factor in the return of Michael Thomas, the “‘slant boy’ aficionado,” and suddenly the Saints do not need Jameis Winston to play at his best to win games. Yes, Winston cannot turn the ball over as he has throughout the years, but he does not have to be perfect, even if he plays at a close level to that he played in 2021-22 pre-injury. The Saints overhauled their receiver room, despite having young solid players in Marquez Callaway and Tre’Quan Smith, who should pay dividends in an offense that features Alvin Kamara and a potential quality Tight End in Adam Trautman.
The Saints defense features talent at every level and should improve off this past season after adding safeties Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye, along with mainstays Marshon Lattimore and Defenseive End Cam Jordan. Anything New Orleans gets out of their offense is a plus. More skill player talent never hurts unless a player puts himself over the well-being of the team. The Saints have the wide receiving depth and the skill player talent on all sides of the ball to be a thorn in a weaker NFC.
That is not to say anything is handed to the 2022-23 Saints. They still contend with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, who remains as talented as any team. Furthermore, it is possible the team’s coaching takes a step back transitioning from future HOF coach Sean Payton to former Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen. Nevertheless, there is a lot to like about the Saints in 2022-23, and have a legitimate shot at a divisional berth, along with an even better chance at a wild card. The Saints' approach to their offense speaks to their ability to recognize and acquire skill player talent while making transactions to address less talented areas of their roster.
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