Entering the 2024 season, expectations weren’t high for the New Orleans Saints. Many analysts criticized the Saints for being an old team that was delaying an inevitable rebuild. Because of that reality, in addition to what other teams in the NFC South did last offseason, it was commonly predicted that the division race would be between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons.
In the end, that’s exactly what happened, as the Saints finished last at fourth. Now, the team is focused on an all-important offseason, hoping to turn things around. The silver lining of an embarrassing season is that the team’s issues were clear, so the solutions should be as well.
With that in mind, here are three changes New Orleans must make this offseason to avoid disaster moving forward.
3. Saints must re-evaluate their injury management program
The biggest issue for New Orleans this season was health. At the beginning of the year, the Saints looked like one of the league’s best teams, but by Week 3, injuries started to strike key players, and it was all downhill from there. That could be a built-in excuse, but only if you’re of the belief that all injuries are by chance.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton isn’t of that belief, and that’s why he recently to a subtle shot at the Saints and other often-injured teams, saying that’s something they earn. Whatever New Orleans is doing to earn being an injured team needs to be identified and changed quickly. The Saints need to investigate everything from the top down and react accordingly.
2. Saints must build better depth
All injuries aren’t preventable in football though, and that’s why building depth is important. New Orleans may be able to use injuries as an excuse, but the team has no one to blame but itself for the top heavy roster it entered the season with.
This was best demonstrated in the wide receiver room. The Saints struggled after losing Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, but their absences were exaggerated by the lack of depth at receiver. All offseason, everyone said New Orleans needed more talent in the wide receiver room. The team didn’t add accordingly, so when injury struck, New Orleans wasn’t prepared. Hopefully, the front office learns from that mistake.
1. Saints must hire a coach that can weather any storm
Like depth, this is also connected to the injuries that derailed New Orleans’ season. Every season, there are a few teams that are ravaged by injuries, but their responses to those injuries are what separate them. The injuries can either become an excuse for why you struggle, or they can become an obstacle you overcame in pursuit of greatness.
The head coach often decides which direction the team is going to go. For example, the Detroit Lions were hit hard with injuries this season, but Dan Campbell didn't blink, and he wouldn’t allow his team to feel sorry for themselves. Instead, he challenged everyone who was healthy to be even better, and they responded by claiming the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Whether it be injuries or other issues that plague NFL teams, the Saints must hire the right coach to navigate those problems.