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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TAMPA, FL – DEC 09: Alex Okafor (57) of the Saints rushes the passer during the regular season game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 09, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Solidify the defensive line

It wasn’t all that long ago that the defensive unit of the New Orleans Saints was a team liability. But things have changed in recent years thanks to an influx of young talent and some solid moves via free agency. Arguably, the strength of this group is the defensive front led by four-time Pro Bowl end Cameron Jordan. He finished 2018 with 49 tackles, a team-best 12 sacks and six passes defensed.

He’s joined up front by emerging defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and 2018 first-round pick Marcus Davenport. The former was second on the club with eight quarterback traps while Davenport finished with 4.5 sacks. But in the team’s NFC Divisional Playoff win over the Eagles, Rankins suffered an Achilles injury. The team brought back well-traveled Tyrunn Walker when the former first-round pick went down.

On the other side, there’s four-year pro Tyeler Davison (who has made 48 starts in 61 regular-season outings with the team) and standout Alex Okafor. The latter has played and started 26 contests in two seasons with the club and has amassed 8.5 sacks. But the bottom line is that both of these performers are slated to hit free agency in mid-March.

Only the Chicago Bears wound up giving up fewer yards per game on the ground this past season than the Saints. Between the free-agent status of both Davison and Okafor and the health of Rankins, there are some issues to address here.

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