Saints Among NFL's Most Overlooked Teams

Are the Saints overhyped or overlooked after an aggressive offseason? One site has an answer.

The New Orleans Saints missed the playoffs for the second straight year in 2022, finishing with a 7-10 record. It was their first double-digit loss season since going 3-13 during the Hurricane Katrina disaster of 2005. Discounting that, you have to go all the way back to a 3-13 record during the horrific Mike Ditka regime of 1999 to find another double-digit loss season. 

New Orleans responded to the disappointment with an aggressive offseason. They signed QB Derek Carr, RB Jamaal Williams, and TE Foster Moreau to join an offense that already includes Taysom Hill, WRs Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, and Rashid Shaheed, RB Alvin Kamara, TE Juwan Johnson, and a potentially dominant offensive line. 

Defensively, DE Cam Jordan, LB Demario Davis, CB Marshon Lattimore, and S Tyrann Mathieu are among the league's best at their positions. Corners Alontae Taylor and Paulson Adebo, LB Pete Werner, and DE Carl Granderson are rising stars. The Saints also added DTs Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders in free agency and drafted DT Bryan Bresee and DE Isaiah Foskey with their first two picks.

In a June article for Pro Football Focus, writer Gordon McGuinness named New Orleans as one of the top-5 overlooked teams heading into the 2023-24 campaign. 

McGuinness also named the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills (overlooked, really??), and Los Angeles Rams with the Saints as overlooked teams.  Here's what he had to say about New Orleans for PFF.

The Saints are the NFC South favorites, admittedly one of the weakest divisions in football, and as long as Derek Carr can offer an upgrade for them at quarterback, there’s a good chance that they are hosting a playoff game in January. With a supporting cast led by wide receiver Chris Olave, whose 82.9 PFF receiving grade was the third-best among rookies, and 16th among all receivers, if they get the 2019-2021 version of Carr that we saw with the Raiders, there’s a path to them contending late in January in the NFC.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) catches a pass from quarterback Derek Carr (4) during minicamp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

The Saints have plenty of talent and solid depth, as much as any team in the league. However, there are also a lot of questions this team needs to answer quickly to be contenders. There are also plenty of reasons to agree with McGuinness' assessment. 

Based on projected win total of opponents, the Saints have the league's easiest 2023 schedule according to Las Vegas lines. New Orleans faces just four opponents that had a winning record last season, including only one on the road. 

According to the latest Vegas lines, the Saints are projected to win 9.5 games in 2023. It's the highest projection of any team in the NFC South. Of course  all this means little if the Saints underachieve on the field. 

Expect New Orleans to have a much more explosive offense with Carr at the helm. This unit looks like it has the talent to withstand a suspension to Kamara, even if the injury woes to Michael Thomas aren't in the past. Health, and a return to form of a once-dominant offensive line is a big key to success. 

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis (56) and cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) react after a play against the Seattle Seahawks. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

The Saints have a potentially elite defense, led by Jordan, Davis, and a deep secondary. A revamped defensive tackle spot needs to develop quickly, however, and the defense must create more pressure and turnovers than they did in 2022.

Is PFF correct?

After an offseason of blatant disrespect to the talent that the Saints have by PFF, Gordon McGuinness believes that this team has been overlooked. Proving him correct could be what saves coach Dennis Allen's job and prevent a possible massive personnel overhaul after the season.