Demario Davis is a pending free agent and his recent comments about weighing his options should scare New Orleans Saints fans. It was easy to brush off at first, but as time goes on, brushing off those comments feels foolish. If Davis does leave, linebacker quietly creeps into arguably the three biggest needs on the team.
In his eight years in New Orleans, Davis has been more than just one of the best players on the Saints defense. He's become the vocal leader of defense and one of the faces of the team. Once Drew Brees retired, Davis became the emotional leader of the team. The linebacker leaving New Orleans felt like something that would never happen. Now, the possibility is right in our face.
You start looking at the needs on the Saints roster and you realize that a Demario Davis-less linebacker corps is pretty high on the list. Guard is probably still the biggest need on the team regardless, but you can make an argument against every other position on the team.
Losing Demario Davis will test how much the Saints trust Pete Werner and Danny Stutsman
A Demario Davis departure could force a splash signing of a player like Quay Walker. The Packers linebacker would bring increased athleticism into the room. Honestly, Walker wouldn't be a bad move if the Saints keep Davis.
The duo of Walker and Davis could be special. Signing Walker transitions from something that could give you a truly high ceiling to something that still gives you a solid floor. Then again, the Saints may feel like they don't need to add much to the room.
Danny Stutsman was a player viewed as Davis' eventual replacement. This wasn't expected to happen so early, but they may feel like they are already prepared for this departure. Stutsman played in a rotational role in his rookie season, so stepping in for Davis would be a massive step up in play time and responsibility.
Isaiah Stalbird impressed in a rotational role as well. His blitzing and coverage ability sets him apart from the other young linebackers. Pete Werner is the guy who makes this a questionable room. He's a veteran, so he doesn't receive the benefit of being an unknown commodity. Instead, he's a veteran who is better suited as the complement than the star of the linebacker room.