If Saints don’t trade for a safety, they must sign Earl Thomas

The Saints have an undeniable need for help at the safety position and must improve their defense for a shot at winning this year’s Super Bowl.

The Saints have a huge safety problem. For the most part, their defense has been solid throughout the season so far. People would even consider their secondary talented. However, the safety needs help that the team can’t look over.

The veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins’s time in New Orleans has already come to an end once, and while he signed on for four years, there’s no denying the team could cut him at any time after the second season, given the structure of his contract. He’s safe for now.

With Williams and Thomas, the Saints would have a better duo monitoring the secondary. With Williams needing a new deal, adding Thomas for multiple seasons could be a win for the long-term future and a win for the short-term future as well.

With Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, the main safety backup, playing most of his time in the slot, Jenkins will give them a true backup. For a team that deals with injuries every year, depth is a vital key to the success of the Saints.

Earl Thomas could still one of the best safeties in the league, and to be honest, his tackling couldn’t be much worse than what the secondary is already experiencing. He was a member of the Pro Bowl team in 2019 before being released by the Ravens for an altercation with a teammate.

He has remained a free agent ever since.

Last year, Thomas totaled 49 tackles, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, two tackles for a loss, and one forced fumble and recovery. In his career, he also adds six other Pro Bowl appearances and three back to back selections to the First-Team All-Pro roster.

The Saints could use a man like that in the secondary.

If the Saints want to win this year, this makes the most sense. However, I would still try and trade for someone like Ha Ha Clinton-Dix or Antoine Bethea and if they fall through, this is just as good of an option.