S72 Final 53
by mayne41event | 3 years ago | 0 Comments
By Donovan Simmons | @RZDSimmons | December 19, 2021 9:35am
We are back once again for more New Orleans Saints football. Season 71…. Well it didn’t go as planned. Trials, tribulations, a quarantine all lead to a 4-13 record. Then the offseason came and decisions needed to be made for 2 longstanding Saint players. Cam Jordan… dealt to Cincy. Demario Davis, cap casualty but also ended up in Cincy. So with some actual cap space, Coach Mayne Event was able to bring in a number of free agents during the signing period.
Signings
- CB Cameron Sutton - 2yrs $5.8 mill
- WR Allen Lazard- 2yrs $9.1 mill
- DT Ndamukong Suh- 1yr $5.4 mill
- WR Kendrick Bourne- 2yrs $11.6 mill
- MLB Nick Kwiatkoski- 2yrs $6.1 mill
- CB Jimmy Moreland- 2yrs $3.1 mill
- C Michael Deiter- 2yrs $2.1 mill
Along with the 7 new Saints, they managed to maneuver in the draft and acquire an additional 1st round pick (1.25 from the Dolphins which they flipped into 1.13 from the Cowboys). Head to my twitter page for a breakdown of each selection. But, here is the Season 72 rookie class. Also see the practice squad below as well.
1.5- DE Bart McCloud
1.13- DT Jerry Choice
2.5- OLB Rashaud Shepherd
3.5- SS Connor Murray
4.5- WR Bryan Barden
4.23- CB Sheldon Lowery
5.5- G Rob Horan
5.24- G Marvin Kramer
6.5- MLB Bobby Boyd
7.5- G Zac Hood
Practice Squad
- WR Jalen Camp
- DE Kendrick Stoudemire
- CB Sterling Smith
- WR Toby Pearman
- WR Brandon Blade
- G George Graham
- T Vince Jackson
- CB John Turner
- DT Forrest Gipson
- T James Riley
- OLB Bryan Wilkinson
- OLB Melo McCullers
Free agents have been signed, rookies have been selected. Training camp and preseason are finished. Cuts have been made. It’s now time to reveal the final 53 for Season 72.
QB - Colin Hamels, PJ Walker
It’s year two of the Colin Hamels era. After finishing with almost 4,300 yds and 21TDs, the concerns were accuracy (56% comp), turnovers (26 INTs), and not getting rid of the ball (Sacked 36 times). While targets were added in the offseason, Hamels will need to take a big leap forward if he wants to be the Saints QB going forward.
RB - Alvin Kamara, Garrison Henley, Donnell Pierce, Tony Jones Jr, James McCoy (FB)
Definitely the lifeblood of the offense. Kamara continues to be a do-it-all back. Between the tackles.. no problem. Outside runs…. You got it. Receive the ball out of the back field, yep he does that too. You can even line him up as a receiver, he can get open and make plays there too. His counterpart, Garrison Henley, was a solid spell back to take on some of the load. Look for more of the same in S72.
WR - Michael Thomas, Kendrick Bourne, Allen Lazard, Michael Pittman, Deonte Harris, Bryan Barden (R)
The void was becoming rather large after losing Tre’Quan Smith and Marquez Callaway in back to back years. They patchworked it for S71, but decided to really throw some attention to it this offseason. On top of signing Bourne and Lazard and drafting Byran Barden out of Utah, they also traded a pick to the Colts for Michael Pittman Jr. prior to their week 1 matchup. But a WR core is only as good as the QB that gets them the ball. This group should have plenty of opportunities with defenses keying on the strong run game.
TE - Adam Trautman, Juwan Johnson, Dylan Soehner, Steven Gross
Another important unit on this offense is this tight end room. Led by Trautman and the even athletic Jawan Johnson, they combined for almost 1,300 yds and 7 TDs. On top of their receiving prowess, they were also a major piece in the run blocking department.
T - Ryan Ramczyk, Elijah Wilkerson, Andrew Bates
After a Pro Bowl year from Ramczyk, he returns to anchor this line with Wilkerson being re-signed and second yr man Bates backing them up.
G - Cesar Ruiz, Ty Hoffman, Rob Horan (R), Zac Hood (R), Marvin Kramer (R)
Season 71 Rookie Hoffman and Ruiz, who is in line for a 3+1 deal this coming offseason, are joined by a trio of rookies who will give them potential G/T depth for the next few years.
C - Erik McCoy, Michael Dieter
Speaking of 3+1, McCoy was the recipient of a 5yr 3+1 deal last year and will continue to drive this OLine ship here in S72.
DE - Marcus Davenport, Bart McCloud (R), Payton Turner, Avery Boss
The second 3+1 deal was given to Davenport, who assumes the role as leader in that DE room. He will be joined by the first of 2 first round picks, Bart McCloud out of Michigan. Payton Turner should see some time in pass rush situations as well.
DT - Jerry Choice (R), Ndamukong Suh, Davon Godchaux, Tremaine Tate (R)
Godchaux was the only DT holdover from S71. But joining him, free agent signing Suh and two rookies. The first is the other first round pick Jerry Choice out of BC. The Second is Tremaine Tate, who was signed off of the Jets practice squad just after cut day.
OLB - Pete Werner, Rashaud Shepherd (R), Zack Baun, Bobby Boyd (R)
With the loss of Demario Davis, all signs point to Pete Werner to take over the defensive play calls and adjustments on the field. Zach Baun also returns but loses his starting job to sixth round pick Bobby Boyd out of The U. Second round pick Rashaud Shepherd from West Virginia will back up Werner, but I expect him to earn an increased role by season's end and maybe a starting role come S73.
MLB - Nick Kwiatkoski, JaWuan Hendricks
Free agent signing Kwiatkoski will have the massive task of filling the shoes of Demario Davis. We’ll see how he’s able to handle that task. Hendricks returns to back him up.
CB - Marshon Lattimore, Cameron Sutton, Jimmy Moreland, Paulson Adebo, George Freeman, Isaiah Dunn, Sheldon Lowery (R)
Lattimore is the unquestioned leader in the DB room and one of the defensive captains on the team. Losing Brian Poole and Fabian Moreau wasn’t ideal. But in come Cam Sutton and Jimmy Moreland. Who will emerge as the 4th CB on the depth chart? Foreman and Adebo return while 4th round rookie Sheldon Lowery out of Indiana joins the fold.
S - CJ Gardner-Johnson, Julian Love, JC Holley, Connor Murray (R)
CJGJ was the third 3+1 player to receive a deal. While his safety counterpart, Julian Love received the +1 aka the franchise tag worth around $15 million. Look for Love to be extended before seasons end as he is at the top of the 3+1 list this year. Holley makes the 53 this year after spending the year last year on the P-Squad. Third round selection Connor Murray out of New Hampshire backs up CJGJ.
Specialist - Wil Lutz, Blake Gillikin
Kickers stay kicking… Electric Boogaloo
Follow me @RZDSimmons on Twitter all season long for Saints coverage. And check out the team page at daddyleagues.com/redzone/team/NO
