New Orleans Saints: 5 offseason needs

By John Buhler | Feb 28, 2017

Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower (34) celebrates with wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Saints defeated the Cardinals 48-41. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

4 of 5

Dec 24, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton on the sidelines in the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Keep rolling the dice at cornerback

It doesn’t matter how many cornerbacks the Saints have on their roster, this has been an area of complete dysfunction for the New Orleans defense for far too long. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen did a better job that most not putting Saints defensive backs in position to fail.

However, the Saints need to completely rebuild the back-end of their defense and need to do so mostly through the draft. Going with a speed guy to cover a vertical threat outside could be considered, but he’ll probably lack the necessary physicality to give the Saints defense any bite.

A press cover cornerback could prove to be more useful in the Saints secondary. He could line up in a multitude of spots, inside and out, to hopefully limit completions in the flats and in the slot. In short, the Saints don’t need the best ball hawk they can get this offseason. They need a player that is going to make it hard for the opposition to catch passes in an increasingly passing-centric league.

New Orleans could look to sign a player in free agency. There will be a very deep secondary class in this free agency cycle. However, it may be more advantageous for the Saints to take a cornerback they really like with one of their first three picks in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Home/New Orleans Saints