New Orleans Saints: 5 offseason needs in 2019

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints reacts after a no-call between Tommylee Lewis #11 of the New Orleans Saints and Nickell Robey-Coleman #23 of the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. /

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 18: Josh Hill #89 of the New Orleans Saints is hit by Nigel Bradham #53 of the Philadelphia Eagles at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 18, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Eagles 48-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

3. Address the tight end position

Back in 2015, the Saints were looking the team’s offensive line and were willing to give up one of their most productive players to do it. The organization sent Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham and a fourth-round pick that year to the Pacific Northwest. In return, the Seattle Seahawks sent center Max Unger and the first-round pick to New Orleans.

All told, the organization has wound up shoring up the unit responsible for keep quarterback Drew Brees out of harm’s way. This past season, Unger, left tackle Terron Armstead and guards Andrus Peat and Larry Warford all wound up in the Pro Bowl for various reasons – for what that is worth. Via Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the Saints were the site’s eighth-ranked offensive front in the league.

Since that trade, the team has been looking for the right player to fill the void left by the departure of Graham. That year and this past season, they got it in respected veteran Benjamin Watson. In ’15, he finished second on the team with 64 receptions, good for 825 yards and six scores. This past year, he returned to the franchise via free agency and finished third on the team with 35 grabs, totaling 400 yards and two touchdowns.

But the one-time first-round pick of the New England Patriots has opted for retirement. Veteran Michael Hoomanawanui spent all of 2018 on injured reserve and could become a free agent next month. The Saints still have Josh Hill and fellow former undrafted free agent Dan Arnold, as well as Garrett Griffin under contract. But this could be a spot that the team bolsters over the next few months and understandably so.

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