Ranking the New Orleans Saints top five offseason needs

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 16: Wide receiver Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 16, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 16: Wide receiver Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 16, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Number Two: LB

The New Orleans Saints need to acquire depth at the linebacker position that can stay healthy and produce at a high level.

The Saints have some talent at the position, but some big names are set to hit the market either this year or next year. Manti Te’o and AJ Klein are free agents this year and Demario Davis, Kiko Alonso, Craig Robertson, and Alex Anzalone are all set to hit the market in 2021.

Alex Anzalone will be back in 2020 after missing 15 games in 2019. Kiko Alonso tore his ACL in the playoffs against the Minnesota Vikings and carries a cap hit of $8.7 million.

Alonso could be a cut candidate this offseason to create more cap space; especially after reports came out that the Saints are going to pursue Patriots’ linebacker Jamie Collins in free agency.

Collins, 30, had 81 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, three interceptions, seven passes defended, and a touchdown in 2019. Collins could completely revamp the Saints defense and would be an elite talent to pair up with 2019 AP First-Team All-Pro Demario Davis.

The Saints could also bring in a couple of veteran players for cheap if they wanted to but going after Jamie Collins would be a great move.