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Saints Buzz and Nuggets from the NFL Combine

After spending time in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine, here's all the buzz and rumors surrounding the Saints as we're quickly approaching the new league season.

John Hendrix

Saints Buzz and Nuggets from the NFL Combine
Saints Buzz and Nuggets from the NFL Combine /
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The Saints continue to put in their scouting work at the NFL Combine. It's been an eventful week, and things wrap up on Sunday with running backs and offensive linemen doing their position drills. After spending time up there, here's all of the buzz and nuggets I've been able to gather surrounding New Orleans.

COMBINE INTEL: Mickey Loomis Takeaways | Dennis Allen Takeaways

DEREK CARR PURSUIT: He remains to be their top target, and filling the quarterback spot is the top concern for the Saints right now. This is more about fit than anything, and everything I understand about this situation is that we should know where he lands before the start of the new league year on March 15. New Orleans looks at Carr as a long-term solution, and if they do land him, it would be unlikely they draft another guy behind him with other pressing needs. A backup plan could surround someone like Jimmy Garoppolo, but we're a long ways away from that being considered.

TOUGH CALLS: Cesar Ruiz's fifth-year option is going to come in just north of $14 million, and it's hard to see New Orleans picking that up right now. The higher restricted free agent tenders are going to also going to make a little harder for the Saints to keep some of their own. Among those include Blake Gillikin, Chase Hansen, Albert Huggins, Juwan Johnson, Malcolm Roach, Marquez Callaway, and Andrew Dowell. Johnson is a priority right now, but there's also potential for the Saints to upgrade at tight end as well.

DEFENSIVE INTERIOR MAKEOVER: Don't be surprised if New Orleans looks to use picks on the defensive line during the draft and be shoppers in free agency. They haven't heavily invested in that spot since 2016 (David Onyemata), and have just one guy on the roster right now. They're going to have to find their next Shy Tuttle and Malcolm Roach too. 

MICHAEL THOMAS: This has been out there, but echoing what some others have said in regards to the door not being closed on Thomas returning to the Saints. It would require some major work in the front office to get the deal reworked. Count on New Orleans to focus on getting a possession receiver in the offseason, and even with a potential Thomas return, the Saints won't have all of their eggs in that basket.

PENNING POISED: There's a lot of excitement surrounding Trevor Penning next season, and he's expected to make a major push to be the starting left tackle. He's recovering from his Lisfranc surgery and is doing well in the recovery process, all things considered. The Saints are very high on James Hurst, so what remains to be seen is what happens with Andrus Peat, if anything.

RUNNING BACK A BIG FOCUS: Regardless of how things play out with Alvin Kamara, expect the Saints to do a lot of homework in the running back department. Free agency and the draft could provide answers, and New Orleans will look at both.

MARCUS DAVENPORT: There's interest in bringing Davenport back, but expect him to test the market. When he's healthy, he can be a force. However, New Orleans will be smart here and feels good about what they have. Bringing back Tanoh Kpassagnon was an underrated move for the team, and there's a lot of belief in Cam Jordan.

PROSPECT MEETINGS: Here's a look at some of the players the Saints have met with while in Indy. There's going to be a lot more, but given the needs of the team, this is a pretty strong list.

  • Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
  • Jaray Jenkins, WR LSU
  • Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
  • Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
  • Parker Washington, WR, Penn State
  • Ji'Ayir Brown, DB, Penn State
  • Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford
  • C.J. Johnson Jr., WR, East Carolina
  • Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
  • Michael Jefferson, WR, UL-Lafayette
  • Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pitt
  • Clayton Tune, QB, Houston
  • Josh Downs, WR, UNC
  • Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane

The new league season is quickly approaching, and we could see one of the biggest questions answered very soon for the Saints. 

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John Hendrix
JOHN HENDRIX

I officially started covering the New Orleans Saints & other NFL topics in 2011. My work has been featured on various outlets over the years. I worked closely with Skyhorse Publishing in Fall 2018 to update the book, Tales From the New Orleans Saints Sidelines, which filled in all Saints material from the 2013-2017 seasons. Prior to joining Saints News Network, I served as the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles for 3.5 years, and before that with FanSided's Who Dat Dish as the Managing Editor for several years. I have also had experiences of being a freelance Saints reporter for The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS and a contributing writer for WDSU, a local NBC TV station in New Orleans. I have appeared on a vast amount of TV and Radio shows, both nationally and locally. For tips, comments, or suggestions, please contact me at johnhendrix@saintsnews.net