All Things Saints: Your Daily News 4/29
By John Hendrix
Aug 25, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead (6) warms up with long snapper Justin Drescher (47) against the Houston Texans before the game at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
The good news for Who Dat Nation? The New Orleans Saints return in 138 days. The bad news for Who Dat Nation? The New Orleans Saints return in 138 days. Talk about withdrawals!!!!
At any rate, here’s some good news items for you today!
Mike Triplett | ESPN | Ranking Saints draft needs: No. 11 QB
"Draft possibilities: This shouldn’t be a high priority for the Saints in the draft. Brees should have at least three or four great years left in him — if not more — so it’s too early for the Saints to invest heavily in a future replacement plan."
I couldn’t agree more with Triplett. Why are we even thinking that the team would need a quarterback at this point? Ryan Griffin is a project. Luke McCown is the backup. Unless an undrafted rookie free agent enters the picture and beats out McCown or Griffin in training camp, then you won’t see the team draft a quarterback. Any of the team draft picks are better spent on other positions.
Jason LaCanfora | CBS Sports | Sources: Saints RB Mark Ingram’s fifth-year option won’t be picked up
"Ingram was due to make $5 million in 2015 on the option, a high figure for a running back in this era, but a figure he might surpass in 2015 earnings on the open market should he perform well in 2014."
We’re just working on ‘sources’ here, and nothing is set in stone. The Saints have until May 3rd to make a decision on Ingram’s fifth-year option. The team is going to be pressed in terms of the salary cap for the 2015 season as it is. The Saints made a choice to retain defensive end Cameron Jordan earlier this month. By not extending a fifth-year option on Mark Ingram, it’s a gamble. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Ingram won’t return to New Orleans. Ingram has previously stated that he’s only focused on this season.
Kevin Patra | NFL.com | Seahawks make Earl Thomas NFL’s highest-paid safety
"Prior to Thomas’ new deal, Jairus Byrd ($9 million) and Eric Berry ($8.4 million) had the highest base salaries from the safety position, per spotrac.com. Byrd signed a six-year, $54 million contract with the New Orleans Saints this offseason, including a $11 million signing bonus ($26.3 million guaranteed)."
Moves such as these should come off as little to no shock for anyone in the football world. When ‘x’ player becomes the highest paid at his position, it’s only a matter of time before ‘y’ player beats him out, even if it’s by a dollar. Jairus Byrd and Earl Thomas definitely have something in common: They’re worth the money.
Larry Holder | NOLA.com | New Orleans Saints 2014 NFL draft outlook
"One way or another, look for the Saints to add an edge defender to help the team’s pass rush as a complement to Cam Jordan and Junior Galette. It’s no indictment on those two players that the Saints acquire a third pass rusher, though. A third pass rusher would bolster an already potent attack."
Any ties to the Saints drafting an outside linebacker usually echoes around the team getting another edge rusher. A linebacker makes sense at pick #27. We will know how the team feels about their secondary and wide receiver corp on May 8th, which is now just nine days away.
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