By Sean Gannon

May 14, 2020

The Saints finished the season in the worst way possible, a walk off loss in overtime at home to the Vikings. It was not the ending anyone expected and not the one that they wanted. But do not let the end of their season distract anyone from the fact that they went 13-3 with Drew Brees missing five games due to a torn rotator cuff. With a great offseason, the Saints put themselves in a perfect position to win a championship in 2020.

The first thing they did was make sure 41-year-old future hall of famer; Drew Brees is back in New Orleans for the foreseeable future. Despite missing five games Brees still threw for over 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. The main reason he was able to have so much success was because all-pro wide receiver Michael Thomas could not be stopped by any defense. In 2019, Thomas set an NFL record in single season receptions at 149, an amazing 1,725 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was the passing offense of the Saints. The receiver with the second most receptions on the team was Ted Ginn Jr, with only 30 receptions. Alvin Kamara had more than Gin in 2019 with 81 total receptions. This showed a glaring issue for the Saints, and they addressed that by signing veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Sanders is a bonafide veteran who makes any receiving core better. When he was traded to the 49er’s midseason in 2019, San Francisco’s passing game immediately improved. When Sanders played the Saints last year, he torched their defense for 157 yards and one touchdown on 7 receptions. Brees has weapons all around him now and wont only need to look for Michael Thomas on every play. The offensive playbook of the Saints is in full effect and the NFL world needs to worry, if you couldn’t stop Thomas before, I’m unsure how anyone will do that now.

       It wasn’t just the offense the Saints went out and improved this offseason. In the draft, the Saints picked Zack Baun in the third round out of Wisconsin. Baun is coming into the league following a senior season where he had 52 solo tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks coming from the linebacker position. They got a true run-stopping linebacker who loves to rush the pass and isn’t afraid to make a big hit. He should make an immediate impact for the defense and work in tandem with Demario Davis. When Von Bell hit the free agency market, the Saints needed to fill that position, they did that by signing their former first round pick Malcom Jenkins. Jenkins returns to the Saints coming off of his sixth straight season of over 70 total tackles. Jenkins is a pro-bowl caliber player with a high motor and loves to bring the hammer on wide receivers. He is a true enforcer, and with his veteran experience he adds a lot knowledge and leadership to a relatively young secondary. He’s going to give a lot of help to the back end of the Saints defense.

       In a division that now features Tom Brady, many want to lean towards the Buccaneers as the favorites to win the division. But the Saints have won the division the last years with records of 11-5, 13-3 and 13-3. They are an all-around great team top down and have had years of playing together. You compare that to the Buccaneers bringing in a new quarterback who hasn’t gotten to throw the ball to his new receivers yet, it’s hard for me to say the Buccaneers can definitely beat the Saints right now. That being said, this is going to be one of the best divisions and the Saints are a team to watch in 2020. Keep your eyes out on them and circle the Week one matchup against Brady and the Bucs.