Should Ellerbe be kept next season?

Yes, but draft Zach Cunningham in the first and sign a free agent linebacker as well

No. You can't rely on him for a full season

Isn't he on a pretty cap friendly deal? If so, yes. If not, try to restructure based on injury history.

Ellerbe: 3.2mil cap hit (2.5mil annual)
Robertson/Stupar: 1.8mil cap hit (1.67mil annual)

If the truth of Anthony being really injured is true, than you're literally only allowing 8mil cap hit on 4 guys. That is not bad at all.

Hope for the best and if he can somehow get 8-10 games out of him that would be phenomenal for his cost. It isn't like we're paying him 8-10mil and if you look at FA there isn't much quality top end, just 'potential guys' like stupar/robertson. I rtaher keep Ellerbe and gamble than that

Yes, but the Saints need to make sure to have other linebackers ready to step up for when he misses 12/16 games

when healthy he plays at an incredibly high LB level. He was fantastic last Thursday.

For his price tag which isnt high and his upside/overall production when he plays I would keep him. I would draft a LB early...but I would keep him.

He is not breaking our bank and is a valuable piece to have.

With Ellerbe, Robertson, Stupar and hopefully Anthony we already have a capable LB corps...just add a 1st-3rd rounder/priority FA to the mix and profit.

Have we given up on Anthony at this point? I can't believe it after last season.

You don't throw away this kind of productivity on the chance he might get injured. In a violent sport like football inevitably injuries are a way of life. Linebackers and running backs tend to be involved in the most violent collisions. I guess the nature of the position. James Laurinaitis didn't miss a game at St. Louis , comes here and hardly sees the field. Difference in aggressive style or a crap shoot?

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I don't trust the front office to pick up a free agent

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Ellerbe has shown he can be an impact player

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Trade but still.

Plus Fujita, Vilma (trade but still a pick up) Robertson, Mauti, and Stupar. Shanle was okay for a while until Fujita left.

Casillas was an UDFA with promise that has shown up elsewhere. Dunbar too.

Now the drafting, if Anthony doesn't show up then yeah.

It's a no brainer to keep him imo. Robertson, Ellerbe, Stupar, Mauti, & Anthony should be on the team next year if all goes to plan. We need 1 more LB to complete the group...high draft pick or F.A. acquisition.

We could double up on LB(draft a guy & sign a F.A.), but I think OG & DE(Kruger is serious doo doo, Tapp is about to retire, & Kikaha/Edebali are pass rushers until proven otherwise) are the positions we should be doubling up on. Maybe LB as well if we have the money/draft picks to do so. Vitt hasn't given me a reason to trust him in developing a rookie, but he's given me plenty of reasons on why I shouldn't trust him.