The Saints had a productive free agency period. Going after and signing some players in positions of need, focusing on defense but nailing maybe the best signing in the league on the offensive side of the ball. They covered most of my wish list except guard and wide receiver, Here are my grades for the players they did sign.
James Laurinaitis , ILB, LA Rams. Laurinaitis was consistently good for the Rams since he arrived in St. Louis. He lead the team in tackles virtually every season. This is a good signing because he is a good, solid player. My one concern would be that he was playing behind one of the best defensive fronts in all the NFL and now could be playing behind one of the worst fronts in all the NFL. Inside linebackers rely so much on the interior defensive line for protection. Grade: B-.
Craig Robertson, OLB, Cleveland Browns. Robinson is young, athletic, fast, aggressive. He's also raw, inexperienced and underproductive,. The Saints need young fast athletic linebackers. They haven't had many under Sean Payton until drafting Stephone Anthony, Hau'holi Ki'kaha and Davis Tull last season. The thought is they can team with Robinson and Lauranitis and perhaps draft a young, athletic, fast linebacker like a Dion Jones from LSU, then they could have a speedy, athletic group with just enough leadership and moxie to dramatically upgrade that position. Grade: B+
Nick Fairley DT, LA Rams. Nick Fairley's an enigma. At best, he immediately becomes the second best defensive linemen on the Saints team. At worst, he could be just another DL on an average team in an average rotation. We just don't know. One thing I do know is NFL teams do not let good defensive tackles get away. He's been often injured and has not played up to his potential on a consistent basis. He signed with the Rams last season hoping to propel himself to the free agency market for a big time contract. However because of a rash injuries he was not able to be on the field enough to perform the way he expected. The Rams decided to let them test the free-agent market. But if Fairly can come in and upgrade the play of the interior defensive line it will be a huge impact on the on the defense as a whole. Grade: C+
Colby Fleener TE, Indianapolis Colts. Fleener is the catch of free agency for the Saints, no pun intended. He will be as close to Jimmy Graham without being that Jimmy Graham as possible. Some question the Colts letting him go if he is so good. He is coming off a down season. But as I see it, the quarterback situation with Andrew Luck being in and out of the lineup all season combined with a very bad offense of line had more of an impact on Fleener than Fleener himself. If a quarterback does not have enough time to allow a TE in to find the seem, it's going to be a very difficult day for the offense. Some question his ability to get open but remember, Drew Brees does not shy away from receivers who are not "open". With Fleener's catch radius and his ability to get down the field, Brees will make him an all-star. He, like Graham, also gives Brees a big target in the red zone. I have no concern whatsoever about his ability to excel in the Saints offense. Grade: A
Eric Harris S, Canadian Football League. This is an intriguing signing. Harris was Saints CB Delvon Breaux's teammate in the CFL. Last season Breaux turned out to be one of the Saints best defensive players. Harris played LB in Canada but at 6'3" 225lbs he projects as a safety with the Saints. That's a big safety. My guess is he'll be tried at strong safety to give Kenny Vacarro competition. He is said to have a nose for the football with good speed. The CFL is primarily a passing league so that may bode well for Harris in the passing game. Very intriguing. This will be one spot to keep an eye on in training camp for sure. Grade C+
Nate Stupar LB, Atlanta Falcons. Stupar was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2012. He played three full seasons then was cut before the 2015 season. Picked up by Atlanta off the waiver wire, he played mostly special teams. Interestingly enough, coming out of Penn State, the former teammate of Saint LB Mike Mauti, was considered to be one of the potential sleepers of the 2012 draft. That didn't happen. Playing with the Raiders those three years and then with the Falcons last season, Stupar has been on some bad defenses. So I'll give him some slack for that. However at age to 28. it's getting late in the game for him if he's going to be a legit NFL LB. He's got his work cut out for him to even make the final 53. But linebacker has been a weak spot for the Saints defense for sometime. Maybe this can be one of those Saints finds like a Scott Shanle. Grade: C-
Josh Scobee K, Pittsburg Steelers. Scobee, 33, kicked for 11 years with the Jacksonville Jags then was traded to Pittsburg in 2015. Heinz Field is known to be one of the most difficult stadiums in the NFL for FG kickers. He had a subpar season as a result. Scobee has a strong, accurate leg and if he playing indoors for nine regular-season games, maybe he can rekindle his career. That's if he makes the team. He will have to compete with Kai Forbath the Saints current field-goal kicker. Forbath was signed last season after they released Zach Hocker. Hocker was the winner of the kicker sweepstakes last training camp, you may recall, he was picked over Dustin Hopkins. In true Saints fashion, the one they cut, Hopkins, went on to have a great season with the Redskins. The one they chose didn't make it to November. New Orleans has become the place kicker's come to die. I have no grade for this.
The position the Saints did not address that I feel is a big-time need is guard. This will now have to be addressed in the draft. I know that they need a defensive tackle. They will have to address the guard position no later than the 3rd round. No grade.
Overall I give the Saints 2016 free agency class a C+. Solid but with potential to be better. It could've been a strong B, but they failed to bring in two positions of need and paid for a 33 year old kicker.
Soon, the draft will be upon us. I'm a draft nerd, so I'll be watching the whole damn thing.
The off-season rolls on.
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