Analyzing the Saints 2010 Free Agents: Defensive Backs

…with signing every one of these guys. Then they fight it out in training camp, and may the best man win. When you cut a player, you cut his salary…so the payroll won’t be significantly higher than it would have been anyway. Frankly, I think all the doom-and-gloom scenarios that have the Saints crashing and burning are way out of line.

Might not tender Young? Really? I’m pretty sure they will at least tender him at the minimum level. He’s worth hanging onto for another few years if we can get him back.

Young can’t cover anybody. I don’t know what he contributes out there?

Yes, he had an incredible first half of the season, but his production noticeably tailed off as the amount of games played took their toll (only 2 ints in the last 12 games). Then you factor in the outright liability he is against the run and the reality is we need to get younger and faster at that position.

They all have value on the field, except for Prioleau and Torrence. I like Prioleau, but I think he just comes with the GW package as an on-field coach. He doesn’t make a lot of impressive plays when he’s on the field. Torrence is a textbook journeyman, and I don’t see why it should end here. If one more had to go, I think it would be a coin-flip between Reis and Young. One has more value on defense(but is not a solid starting anything), the other is a special teams whiz(next year’s model of Steve Gleason). I’d rather keep the special teams guy, but they both have upside. I still think Jenkins’ future is at FS, which would make Young more expendable, but he did come out of nowhere with some solid pass defense in the SB, so who knows what the Saints’ plans for his future are. They should let Sharper finish his career here, though. When he’s good, he’s awesome. But as soon as injuries to defensive starters began to pile up, I’d want him benched in favor of a more athletic option. And I think they have to retain Harper, unless they plan on drafting another hard-hitting safety early.

Does anyone have any knowledge of how he did at Safety this year? I remember we talked about his switch to S all through training camp, and then as the season went along, I never seemed to get a feel for how he was doing at the new position…I know with Harper and Sharper starting, his opportunities would have been limited to injury plays and nickel/dime situations, so maybe he didn’t actually play all that much. As for keeping him or not, it would depend on all the things Dave said, as well as what kind of leadership/team intangibles he provides. I could see him staying or going…

As for Torrence, I had high hopes for him in 08 and 2009, but he never really showed us anything, and then he got hurt.

Reis is a solid special-teamer and decent back-up, I guess? It’d be cheaper to keep him than Usama, but I’m really not sure which of them would be more valued by Wil-Mis-Pay (that’s it – the 1st 2010 offseason use of one of our nicknames for the 3-headed coach/mgt. team!)…

Great first offseason analysis breakdown, DAVE! It was nice to savor the Super Bowl, but let’s get busy movin’ on to figuring out how best to defend that title for all we’re worth! If not us, who?

Yes we want Sharper back. Yes we want Harper back. Bring em all back and see how they do in camp. But we have to sign them first and in doing so we have to put a dollar value on them. If Sharper wants a 2 year deal for 5 Mil, we sign him without hesitation. f he’s looking for a 5 year 30mil deal we’d have to pass. I doubt Reis will be tendered an offer. He played this year for about 450K and the min. tender would be over a Mil. But that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t bring him back. I think he’ll be released but re-signed after he sets his value in the market.

I think the question shouldn’t be tender or cut, but what are they worth?

Torrence – 500K/yr 2yr
Harper – 2 M/yr 4yr
Sharper – 4M/yr 2yr
Young- 1M/yr 4Yr
Prioleau – 500/yr 2yr
Reis – 750/yr 3yr

I’d offer them contracts that paid that for the first year, and went up for the length specified.

rid of Leigh Torrence becuase we have two quailty corners (Greg Fassitt on the PS and Danny Gorrer on IR) that sat out this year. They both looked pretty good with the limited time they got in preseaon.

I think Travis Mackel suggested trading Usama Young for some helpp at the DT rotation, and as much as I like Young as a ST gunner and back up FS (not at all as a back up CB) , I think our needs in the front 7 trump keeping Young if we can get some value you for him.

Harper should be locked up LONG TERM… no ifs ands or buts about it. He is SOLID in run defense and with good FS help in the back, will not be exposed in coverage.

I think we should lock up Reis as well… he’s seems to be becoming our ST ace, and those players can change games, even in their limited roles.

Please pay Sharper a fair market deal for 2 yrs!!! Hes even worth possibly over paying in this UNCAPPED year. I think somewhere in the ballpark of 3 – 3.5 mill a year is good, but if we franchise him and he gets 6 this year, I wouldn’t be totally against that.

I have a feeling Prioleau isn’t going anywhere for two reasons… no one is going to show interest in him and he his GW’s boy.

I honestly hope they part ways with Roman Harper, while they can still get something for him. He’s done a p*** poor job in TE coverage all season and never seems to wrap up in the open field. Four seasons in and the guy is still playing defense like a pinball flipper. Hard hitter? Absolutely. So is anyone that constantly leads with their shoulder and/or back. The occasional highlight reel stick doesn’t justify $2M/year, imo. Tender him, trade him to the highest bidder, hand Chip Vaughn the keys to the SS spot and use that money to upgrade another area. If they handle it any other way, you’re looking at yet another season of status quo production, followed by zero compensation for a first day draft pick, when he reaches his 5th year. If this seemingly lateral-at-worst move helps out elsewhere monetarily, it would be worth it to bite the bullet now. Especially if you still have a team or two that covet him, like the Giants reportedly did at the time of the Shockey trade. Too bad he wasn’t included in that deal, as I honestly view him as the weakest link in our starting secondary.

points out the potential for free agent devastation for our beloved team.

Be the next Steve Gleason?If he’s productive…..Keep him.If he’s just a fan favorite I say not.