NFL: Projecting final records for all 32 teams
By Brad Rowland
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are a juggernaut offensively. New Orleans did lose versatile scat-back Darren Sproles in the off-season, but the rest of the unit is still in tact, and when that group includes both Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham, things are okay. The biggest addition on that side of the ball appears to be rookie wide-out Brandin Cooks, who has drawn rave reviews in camp and could provide an additional dynamic to an already dominant offense.
In preventing the other team from scoring, the Saints added an All-Pro safety to the mix in Jairus Byrd, and now possess three of the best players in the league at the position. The Saints felt comfortable enough to jettison Champ Bailey on final cuts, and they are a talented, opportunistic group that should likely repeat as a top-10 team in defensive DVOA.
The running game is a question mark, Cooks may be a flash in the pan, and there are some other concerns, but as long as Brees and Graham are there, there is a high floor for the Saints, and they are the NFC South favorite.
The Pick: 10-6