New Orleans Saints get a bleak offseason grade ahead of NFL draft

The New Orleans Saints had no money to go out and improve their team in free agency this year. In fact, their cap situation was so desperate that they have had to let a good portion of role players and starters walk in free agency or be released as a result.

The defensive side of the ball was already set to lose some key assets side, but after being hit with more losses than expected, they will need all the help they can get.

The Saints have lost quite a bit in free agency this season; as a result, here are the positions that they need to target in the draft. Cornerback and linebacker will be huge needs as will defensive end and potentially defensive tackle.

Leading up to the NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints receive a very dismal offseason grade based on their free agency movement.

The offense is dealing with a good chunk of losses as well as the team released both Emmanuel Sanders and Nick Easton. They also lost Jared Cook.

Either way, you look at it, the Saints have had a rough offseason and have not been dealt the cards that teams want to see; however, they did manage. Because of this though, the Saints rolled in a bleak offseason grade pre-draft.

This will be one of the most important drafts for the Saints in recent memory. It’s a good thing we never have to worry about Sean Payton drafting poorly. That should hopefully raise their offseason grade post-draft.

Bleacher Report gave the Saints a “D+” for their offseason moves so far. The team has lost DE, Trey Hendrickson; QB, Drew Brees; WR, Emmanuel Sanders; TE, Josh Hill; LB, Kwon Alexander; DT, Malcom Brown; DT, Sheldon Rankins; TE, Jared Cook; and CB, Janoris Jenkins.

"“The reality is that this is a rebuilding year in New Orleans. And given the team’s situation, the offseason could have gone worse. But relative to last year’s 12-win team, the Saints are looking at what could be a long season in 2021,” Gary Davenport wrote."

Outside of re-signing QB, Jameis Winston and CB, PJ Williams, the team tagged S, Marcus Williams, and they also signed DT, Tanoh Kpassagnon. The team did the best they could with the cap space they were given and the fact that they lost a Hall of Fame quarterback.