Replacement talk (Draft & FA)

CB, S (unless they bring back Jenkins).

Need true OLBs, unless they truly go 3-4.

Backup interior OL, maybe a RT.

Yeah, if Jenkins isn't brought back, then safety might jump CB in terms of need.

If Calvin Pryor or HaHa Clinton-Dix are on the board when we pick, then I would bet good money they'll get taken.

I agree. We may go CB early in the draft, but I hope they replace Greer through free agency. Even the best CB prospects take a little time to adjust to the speed of the NFL.

Edit: I don't agree that the window is closing, but we are a team that is in a win now mode. If we can strengthen the D this offseason, I think the team can be as strong as ever.

I agree too, but, I'm not convinced that defense is in that bad shape. Finished fifth in the league, that ain't shabby. Need quality back ups too.
Do believe that we are a team of today tho.
Need play maker for offense while Brees is still effective and don't have much $ to do it.

Around 5M under I think.

Per Trip

quote:

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These moves should put the Saints under the salary cap for now. They were projected to be around $13-15 million over the cap, but they'll need even more space to re-sign or use the franchise tag on free-agent tight end Jimmy Graham and clear space for other free-agent signings.

Vilma, 31, was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, but the others could save the Saints up to $19.2 million in salary-cap space, depending on whether they postpone some of Harper and Greer's remaining cap costs into next year and whether they're required to pay out any injury settlements to Greer and Smith.

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On the cap, overthecap had us at $3.4 mil under and spotrac at $3.8 mil. I think the difference may be either in how much carry over we have or in what they set the cap at.

As for targets, let's look at what starters are FAs/cut and who we have to replace them. Then start thinking about where we can upgrade and where we need depth.

On offense we have our QB, WRs, and HBs returning, along with our Gs and LT. Graham is pretty much a given regardless of how you feel so TE will be set.

On defense we have our whole DLine, all of our LBs, 1 CB and 1 S.

That leaves the question marks as FB, RT, C, 1 CB, and 1 S.

FBs aren't terribly important anymore and we also had a promising young guy backing up Collins(who is a RFA and could still be brought back).

At RT we have a few in house options with Harris and Jones, with a possibility of bringing Strief back if he isn't over paid elsewhere.

We have Lelito as our only C now, and I'm unsure on what happens with De la Puente.

The other starting CB job will be left to White and PRob if we don't find a replacement.

At safety I don't think we have any true replacement, but Bush is a RFA and I don't see him getting away. Jenkins could possibly be brought back, as well as Harper if he comes back for the minimum if he doesn't sign elsewhere.

Looking at that I think our priorities as far as getting starters should be:

CB(Don't want White and PRob as anything more than nickel backs; huge hole)

C(middle is more important than the edges for Brees and I like Lelito but still think he's too green)

S(Bush comes back)

RT(I think the in house options will be good enough if we don't resign Strief plus the edges are less important in the passing game)

FB(not really important)