New Orleans Saints: Lack of depth at wide receiver may be costly

Despite not having much in the way of established receiving talent, the New Orleans Saints did not add a wide receiver this offseason. Do they have enough options in-house to support a functioning passing attack?

If there is something that has been a staple of the Saints during Sean Payton’s tenure as head coach, it’s a productive offense. In fact, during his time in New Orleans, he has never led a below-average offense, based on yards per play.

However, last season marked his worst rank (14th). Why was this the case? Well, between Drew Brees’ decline in production and missing time due to injury, the quarterback position played a great deal in it.

Nevertheless, that wouldn’t appear to be the only reason why. This is a team that has prided itself on having ample talent at the receiver position, as Brees’ presence allowed them to take chances on mid-round picks and get the most out of their playmakers. Last year, though, injuries hit the receiving corps hard, and without anyone generating consistent separation, the offense faltered.

Now with Jameis Winston likely under center, the Saints will need to have a passing attack that allows him to throw the ball down the field, based on his preferred style of play. However, after parting ways with Emmanuel Sanders, Jared Cook, and failing to add a playmaker in free agency or the draft, the Saints are relying a lot on their in-house options.

Will this approach work out for them? Let’s take a closer look!

All Stats Courtesy of Pro Football Reference and Player Profiler