The New Orleans Saints are in an odd place for a NFL franchise, with an in-season coaching change leading to a new spark and optimism for the future.
After a 7-game losing streak, the New Orleans brass fired head coach Dennis Allen and replaced him with special teams coach Darren Rizzi, who is now a legitimate contender to land the permanent job for 2025 and beyond.
It’s impossible to evaluate the current Saints’ roster until the season is over, but they have won two-straight under Rizzi but have tough games against teams like the Packers and Commanders left on the slate, along with easier matchups against the Browns and Giants.
While New Orleans is technically still alive in the NFC playoff race, it would take a near perfect finish to the regular season to make that happen.
Ultimately, there will be major decisions to make when the season comes to an end — with the biggest question surrounding QB Derek Carr — who is set to become a free agent and will draw interest from other teams.
There are obvious decisions to make on the offensive side of the ball, but the Saints have shown life offensively this season providing hope for the future.
Defensively? It’s been a much different story.
New Orleans currently ranks 31st in the NFL in total defense, allowing a staggering 390 yards per game against their opponents.
The Saints made a move this offseason to acquire former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Chase Young, who signed a one-year “prove it” deal after his production faded out in Washington and was traded to the 49ers, where he had little impact during their Super Bowl push.
Young hasn’t been terrible for the Saints, but he’s still a shell of the player who created havoc for opposing defenses during his rookie season in 2020, finishing the year with 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and three fumble returns (including one for a touchdown).
In a recent piece from Bleacher Report, it was suggested that the Saints rival Falcons should make a run to sign Young this offseason.
The Falcons need pass-rushing help more than any other team in the NFL. They've recorded just 10 sacks through 11 games as a team and have seen no single defender record more than 2.5 sacks this season.
Signing a premier pass-rusher, though, will be difficult. Atlanta is projected to be $8.6 million over the limit in terms of effective cap space. However, the Falcons might be able to pluck Chase Young away from the rival New Orleans Saints.
The 2020 first-round pick signed a one-year "prove-it" deal with New Orleans in the offseason and has responded well. Thus far, he has recorded 3.5 sacks and 19 quarterback pressures.
Young is an intriguing player for a team like the Falcons, who can get him fairly cheap and hope the upside from earlier in his career is revitalized. If they can pull it off, they might get a steal who can get after the QB regularly, but the move is a gamble either way.
It’s hard to see a scenario where the Saints decide to extend Young at this point.
