New Orleans Saints DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Athletic's Nick Kosmider suggests that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton could target New Orleans Saints tight ends Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill (knee) this offseason. Johnson signed with the Saints when Payton was still the head coach in 2020 and had seven touchdowns in Payton's final season in 2022. The 28-year-old played in all 17 games in 2023 and finished with career-highs in catches (50) and receiving yards (548). His 18 TD receptions since 2021 are tied for seventh-most among all TEs in that span. Johnson also ranks sixth among all TEs the last four years in average air yards per target (8.64). He'd give Denver a downfield threat at the position that they've been lacking. Hill, a do-it-all 34-year-old that has been a RB and WR for Payton in the past in New Orleans, could be cut by the Saints this offseason after tearing his ACL in 2024. He'd give Denver another option in the short-yardage running game, an area they struggled at this past season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the New Orleans Saints re-signed running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday. Edwards-Helaire began the 2024 season with the Kansas City Chiefs but opened the year on the Non-Football Illness list while dealing with mental-health issues. The former 32nd overall pick by the Chiefs in 2020 out of LSU never played in a regular-season game for KC last year before being waived in December and picked up by the Saints as additional depth for a banged-up backfield. The 25-year-old ended up playing in two games for the Saints, carrying the ball 13 times for 46 yards and adding three catches for 24 yards. CEH, who has averaged 4.2 yards per carry in his five NFL seasons, will now work out with New Orleans this offseason and attempt to win a roster spot in training camp. He'll be facing an uphill battle for a significant role on offense in 2025.

It sounds like New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara will remain a big part of the offense under new head coach Kellen Moore in 2025. "Obviously one of the premiere players in our league, his ability to play in the pass game and the run game, all the different versatile roles that he can play. And so that's been a really important piece. It'll continue to be a really important piece," Moore said at his opening press conference on Thursday. Kamara isn't getting any younger and is entering his age-30 campaign -- typically the age when RBs begin breaking down -- but he didn't slow down in 2024 and had 1,493 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns while remaining active as a pass-catcher (68 receptions). The quarterback position is a question mark for the Saints this offseason, but with Moore calling plays, Kamara should remain heavily involved and enter the fall as a low-end RB1 in fantasy, at worst.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on Tuesday that it's hard to imagine that tight end Taysom Hill (knee) will be back with the New Orleans Saints in 2025. Hill is recovering from a season-ending torn left ACL last December and will carry an almost $18 million salary cap hit into next season, so the Saints' front office has a decision to make on the Swiss Army Knife player this offseason. He'll have a $10 million base salary (not guaranteed) in 2025, and the rest is in the form of a prorated signing bonus. The 34-year-old faces a nine-month recovery and will most likely not be ready for the start of the 2025 season. The Saints could get creative and look to restructure his deal, but cutting him isn't out of the question, either, as he's also been linked to retirement rumors. Hill was once again extremely unpredictable for fantasy purposes in 2024, with three of his six rushing touchdowns coming in one game.

Rumors have been swirling that New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr could be traded or cut this offseason, but NFL insider Adam Schefter said Carr "will probably be the team's QB1 entering 2025." Carr has $10 million in contract guarantees with another $30 million scheduled to kick in on March 15. The organization moving on from the veteran would only save them a few million dollars against the cap, so it's not likely to happen. Since signing with New Orleans ahead of the 2023 campaign, the former Las Vegas Raider has thrown for 6,023 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 27 games. At Fresno State, Carr played against Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, who is now his head coach in the NFL.