Is this the calm before the storm?

I don't think there will be. I think we'll sign one or two more 2nd tier guys and get ready for the draft. I'm sure we'll find another udfa gem as well. We usually do.

If we get Butler and sign a decent TE or WR I'll be happy.

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If we get Butler and sign a decent TE or WR I'll be happy.

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Um, ya think??

Me too. Leaving San Fran without a deal keeps me hoping.

The fact that Nhamdi hasn't signed yet makes me wonder though. Why? I wonder if he wants too much money, is he even being offered? Or is it just one of those deals where his agent is trying to drum up interest where there is none that way his market value will increase?

The fact that Nhamdi hasn't signed yet makes me wonder though. Why? I wonder if he wants too much money, is he even being offered? Or is it just one of those deals where his agent is trying to drum up interest where there is none that way his market value will increase?

This would be considered getting into the meat of Tier Two signings. There's a few big names still floating around but teams on a whole are turning their attention to more role players or good value/deals.

I'd be surprised if no vet OLB was added. I'd love Butler. Similarly to Lewis you are getting a player that may not have busted out big time yet but one that is right there at the brink. Risk of the unknown but high upside. Haven't heard a peep of Shaun Phillips here but he's another good potential value. Different in that he is 32 so the risk is how much gas he has left. We know Brees was influential in getting Sproles here. They might have a word on Phillips that could lead the team to stay away or go after him.

It's a deep TE draft class. There's several targets that could be had 3rd to 5th Rd that could be more than just a backup. I think we'll see a young guy come in and there be an increase in two TE sets. Maybe not as full bore as Gronk/Hernandez in NE but in that direction. Don't have expectation for any significant vet for that reason.

With Bushrod gone we have to ask "Charles Brown?" Brown + less than a 1st Rd LT seems quite risky. I've submitted Bryant McKinnie several times as a skilled but aging vet who might be affordable and be a viable stop gap filler.

blues, you pretty much nailed what I've also been thinking.

We don't have much money left, but if we can get an OLB to come in on a deal that only hits the cap for around $2 mil the first year I think we'll do it.

LT was actually mentioned by Payton as a must(OLB was mentioned as a need), but I think the market for free agents may be a bit high there. I've also thought about McKinnie as a guy who may come in for $1-2 mil for the first year.

It may be risky to go into the year without another vet even if we do draft a LT at 15. But I think there is another option(albeit not a highly likely one). That is wait until June 1st cuts when we can get more money for cutting someone like Harper(not that I think that will happen; just using his contract as an example). But that is risky as the guys they would want could be gone by then.

I think backup QB and backup TE will both be addressed in the draft after round one.

I don't see any other position as even being a possible target unless we get some ridiculous deal on a really good player.

Going back to the June 1st cut thing, we may actually see some of the remaining tier 1/high tier 2 players hanging out there waiting for that day.

Right now because of the cap not increasing much and contracts still ballooning(especially at QB) a lot of these guys aren't getting what they were hoping. However, teams can clear a lot more cap room come June 1st than they can now and players and teams may be discussing this possibility.

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There is a chance the top 4 OLB prospects will be gone by 15 and unless Lane Johnson is there I would be in favor of gathering more picks

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one part of trading that is often overlooked is that ya gotta have a dance partner. There has to be the right player with good value at a position of need for a team. Easier said than done. I'd guess the most likely targets at #15 would be teams wanting a QB or 4-3 DTs.

Non LBs Lotulelei or Xavier Rhodes could be BPAs that they might select over trading down.

Vacarro and Ogletree are two players that a team could grade higher than what you see in consensus mocks too. We might call it reach but it could be value for the Saints board.

We need a spy report on the big board from duhons bud.

Their business is winning football games not catering to the public.

Payton had a great response to anyone with questions or critique on Rob Ryan that can be applied towards free agency or any aspect of running the franchise...

"Listen, it's great they have an opinion," he said. "I'm certain we've got some of the best football fans in the world. The interest level in our program and our team every year throughout not just the season now, but the offseason. That's just the excitement our fans have, and their passionate. But what's most important is making choices and decisions that aren't based on popularity.

"Rob's a guy that's got a great pedigree. He's a guy that's confident, he's a guy that brings a certain amount of enthusiasm to his units. He's a guy that we've faced and I've known for a long time. So, you spend your time, you do a lot of homework, but clearly you've got to do what's best for your program. Those decisions aren't made with any popularity poll. That's not what we do. The most important thing we have to do is win.