My wife and I recently went on a trip to New Orleans, and among the hurricanes and hand grenades and po boys and beignets there stand two oyster restaurants: Acme and Felix’s. Acme gets all the praise. It’s flashy, touristy and priced as such. Felix’s jams too many people into a too-small place with too-low ceilings that cause the smoke from the open grills to hang too long in the air. It’s not flashy, but man is it amazing. The overwhelming strength of the Saints is the same way, and the disaster draft reflects that. And guess what nerds, Drew Brees isn’t a free agent yet (his contract voids on March 14th) and it’s February, so don’t @ me. Who do the Saints protect in their disaster draft? It’s not that… Big Easy.
Lost to Free Agency: Nick Fairley, Kenny Vaccaro, Alex Okafor
The No Doubters:
| Player | POS. | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Cameron Jordan | DE | $14,247,000 | $14,047,000 | $11,647,000 | UFA | – |
| Terron Armstead | LT | $13,500,000 | $15,000,000 | $15,000,000 | $12,750,000 | UFA |
| Larry Warford | G | $9,000,000 | $10,555,000 | $10,600,000 | UFA | – |
| Max Unger | C | $8,000,000 | $8,700,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Drew Brees | QB | $6,000,000 | – | – | – | – |
| Zach Strief | RT | $3,875,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Marshon Lattimore | CB | $3,490,809 | $4,188,971 | $4,887,136 | – | UFA |
| Ryan Ramczyk | RT | $2,020,808 | $2,424,969 | $2,829,131 | – | UFA |
| Michael Thomas | WR | $1,396,083 | $1,628,763 | UFA | – | – |
| Alvin Kamara | RB | $878,193 | $1,050,693 | $1,220,693 | UFA | – |
The not flashy, most important part of the Saints that I highlighted above? That offensive line. Five players from that line are the no doubters making their way back, including last year’s first rounder Ryan Ramczyk. Watch any Saints game and you can see that they’re the engine that makes that train go, and they’re the reason why Drew Brees was able to have time to pick apart defenses last year. Brees returns, on a technicality, and his top two weapons are also no doubts (Michael Thomas an Alvin Kamara).The steal of the 2018 NFL draft’s first round, Marshon Lattimore, is possibly more of a no doubter than anyone on the list not named Drew Brees.
The More-Than-Likely Staying
| Player | POS. | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Mark Ingram | RB | $6,245,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| A.J. Klein | ILB | $5,200,000 | $6,000,000 | $10,000,000 | UFA | – |
| Ted Ginn Jr. | WR | $4,500,000 | $3,500,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Andrus Peat | G | $3,625,204 | – | UFA | – | – |
| Sheldon Rankins | DT | $3,491,358 | $4,073,253 | – | UFA | – |
| Marcus Williams | FS | $1,418,281 | $1,701,938 | $1,985,595 | UFA | – |
The Saints defense was not stellar, and that is reflected in their “more-than-likely” holdovers; players who will likely make the final cut but are not guaranteed. Inexpensive decent players in Klein, Rankins and Williams stay. Ted Ginn, Andrus Peat and Mark Ingram make the cut, as well, since the Saints know where their bread is buttered.
The Leftovers:
Like Mardi Gras beads on Wednesday morning, these players will find themselves unceremoniously swept away to another city.
| Player | POS. | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Coby Fleener | TE | $8,000,000 | $9,000,000 | $9,100,000 | UFA | – |
| Thomas Morstead | P | $4,850,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Josh Hill | TE | $2,833,334 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Manti Te’o | ILB | $2,800,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Nathan Stupar | OLB | $2,125,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Craig Robertson | ILB | $2,000,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Tyeler Davison | DT | $1,959,307 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Michael Hoomanawanui | TE | $1,933,334 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Chris Banjo | SS | $1,800,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Hau’oli Kikaha | OLB | $1,675,644 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Vonn Bell | SS | $1,083,354 | $1,263,914 | UFA | – | – |
| P.J. Williams | CB | $906,657 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Alex Anzalone | OLB | $826,148 | $933,148 | $1,025,148 | UFA | – |
| Andrew Tiller | G | $790,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| Jayrone Elliott | OLB | $790,000 | UFA | – | – | – |
| David Onyemata | DT | $765,586 | $855,586 | UFA | – | – |
| Trey Hendrickson | DE | $754,572 | $844,572 | $935,072 | UFA | – |
| Josh Huff | WR | $705,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Jonathan Williams | RB | $680,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Tommylee Lewis | WR | $631,668 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Ken Crawley | CB | $631,668 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Daniel Lasco | RB | $630,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Gabe Ikard | C | $630,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Shayne Skov | ILB | $630,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Mykkele Thompson | FS | $630,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Will Lutz | K | $630,000 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Al-Quadin Muhammad | DE | $592,616 | $682,616 | $772,619 | UFA | – |
| Taysom Hill | QB | $555,000 | $645,000 | RFA | – | – |
| Dan Arnold | WR | $555,000 | $645,000 | RFA | – | – |
| Austin Carr | WR | $555,000 | $645,000 | RFA | – | – |
| Paul Turner | WR | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Trey Edmunds | RB | $555,000 | $645,000 | RFA | – | – |
| Alex Ellis | TE | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Garrett Griffin | TE | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| John Fullington | G | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Cameron Tom | G | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Justin Hardee | CB | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Devante Harris | CB | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Arthur Maulet | CB | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Mitchell Loewen | TE | $481,668 | RFA | – | – | – |
| Devaroe Lawrence | DT | $480,500 | $570,500 | RFA | – | – |
| Travin Dural | WR | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Nate Theaker | G | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Landon Turner | G | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Alex Jenkins | DE | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Adam Bighill | ILB | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Sae Tautu | OLB | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Rickey Jefferson | CB | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
| Bradley Sylve | CB | $480,000 | ERFA | – | – | – |
