The New Orleans Saints free agency haul has brought in strong reviews from the fan base. David Edwards was a huge signing fans were yearning for since the season ended. Guard was a clear need for the team, and Edwards was always at the top of the list as far as options. Pro Football Focus' Zoltán Buday isn't nearly as enthused about the marriage.
Buday took a look at the best and worst move of free agency for each team. For the record, the Los Angeles Rams were one of multiple teams to receiver an "N/A" for least favorite move. The Saints could have fell into the category.
Instead, Buday tagged one of the largest reasons for optimism as a major area of concern. To put it simply, the Saints can't afford for this to be a failure. It's not even about the investment they've made in Edwards. From a purely impact standpoint, Edwards is the critical addition to open up the run game and fortify protection around Tyler Shough.
Saints made two massive mistakes in signing David Edwards???
Buday brings up two major reasons to condemn the signing. He believes the Saints overpaid and doesn’t believe Edwards’ strengths transfer to the Saints. Those are the most common critiques of a free agency signing. In Buday's mind, the Saints-Edwards marriage has both of these written all over it. Talk about a double whammy
Buday wrote, "making (Edwards) the ninth-highest-paid left guard in the NFL is a big risk when he will need to perform without the help of one of the best offensive lines in football." To the financial side of it, making a player the ninth highest paid at his position isn't that large of a statement. In a day and age where most big signings result in a new highest paid player at the position, this is relatively modest.
It's also not what Saints fans expected. There was a chance Edwards went for nearly $20 million a year. With that in mind, an annual average of $15 million is a bargain. The Saints making Edwards ninth among his peers doesn't truly feel big enough to knock the signing.
Buday's point of Edwards not being surrounded by great players, on the other hand, is a different story. Kelvin Banks Jr. showed a lot of promise in Year 1. He's still a young player. Erik McCoy has dealt with long term injuries over the last two seasons. Edwards isn't playing next to the same offensive line talent, and it appears Buday is skeptical of Edwards' ability away from that ecosystem. If he's right, it could be a long year for the Saints again.