Saints' GM ranked in the top half of the NFL
It's been a busy time for the New Orleans Saints due to their dire salary cap situation to start the offseason. The Saints were able to acquire quarterback Derek Carr, running back Jamaal Williams, and defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. while also bringing in other free agents thanks to some strategic financial maneuvering of contracts. […]
It's been a busy time for the New Orleans Saints due to their dire salary cap situation to start the offseason.
The Saints were able to acquire quarterback Derek Carr, running back Jamaal Williams, and defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. while also bringing in other free agents thanks to some strategic financial maneuvering of contracts.
New Orleans hasn't been perfect lately, but in a recent ranking of NFL general managers, Mickey Loomis came in at No.14 on the list.
The Saints entered the offseason more over the cap than any team, then proceeded to spend more money in free agency than nearly anyone else, including the acquisition of Derek Carr. And they still have plenty of cap space! I give the Saints front office credit for creatively working around the cap, using the cash Gayle Benson is willing to spend. The process isn't necessarily flawed, but the execution is. Loomis hired Dennis Allen and has stuck by him. The staff kept after Sean Payton feels stale compared with the one ex-Saints player/coach Dan Campbell put together in Detroit. Continuing to spend big on a defense in decline feels short-sighted.
The trade of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was a total misfire, and the Saints' decision to let Marcus Williams walk while signing Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye ultimately hurt. Recent drafts have major hits (Chris Olave, Alontae Taylor, Pete Werner) and some potential misses (Payton Turner, Cesar Ruiz, Trevor Penning). This is a franchise that feels a bit all over the place since the final days of Sean Payton's tenure, with everyone trying to keep the paychecks going. It's all added up to a team stuck in the middle, but damned if New Orleans doesn't make the NFL more interesting.
With Tom Brady retired, the Saints have a great shot to win the NFC South and make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
