NFL Analyst Says Saints Had the Fourth Best Offseason in the NFL
Saints snag star running back and fill key needs, sparking debate. One analyst champions their strategic free agency moves, ranking them among the league's best.
The New Orleans Saints improved in free agency. Even so, their moves are seeing mixed reviews. Some are enamored with the Saints' addition of star running back Travis Etienne and the needs they filled with players like linebacker Kaden Elliss and offensive lineman David Edwards.
Others are not so excited about what the team got done in the early free agent period. While the Saints left some moves on the table, one analyst seems to love what New Orleans accomplished. ESPN NFL analyst Ben Solak gave the Saints the fourth-best offseason in the league this year.
"The Saints didn't have a ton of cap space, as they're still extricating themselves from void years of seasons past. But the light is on the horizon, and what space they had they used well. Edwards is an older player, but guards can age well, and he was the most talented player on the market at that position.
Etienne isn't enough of a playmaker to be a dominant three-down back, but he's an excellent 1A in a committee, bringing a well-rounded skill set. Elliss is a uniquely good blitzer who will give defensive coordinator Brandon Staley a useful curveball as an off-ball/on-ball hybrid. The Saints gave out only three significant contracts, but I like all three.