New Orleans Saints

Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is the newest notable NFL figure to take advantage of the broadcasting boom.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported Payton will sign with Fox Sports and likely assume a studio role on Fox NFL Sunday.

In January, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler canvassed league executives and coaches to make predictions for the year ahead. One coordinator told Fowler that Payton was believed to be garnering interest from the NFL's media partners.

Payton stepped down as the Saints coach later that month.

Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports reported in February that Fox was discussing a deal with the 58-year-old to potentially have him succeed Troy Aikman as the lead color commentator. McCarthy reported Payton might earn as much as $10 million annually.

However, Fox ultimately lined up Tom Brady as Aikman's successor when his playing career ends.

Sitting in front of a television camera may only be a temporary occupation for Payton. Florio reported he may have signed with Fox for just one year.

In a February report, Florio wrote the Miami Dolphins were exploring a sprawling plan that would've seen Payton hired as their new head coach and Brady installed as the starting quarterback. The plan was shelved after Brian Flores' racial discrimination lawsuit.

Payton addressed the situation in April and referenced his forthcoming career change.

"I have no clue about the Tampa Bay/Miami Dolphins/Tom Brady rumor," he told reporters. "I understand that there was a request put in where the intermediaries talked, and I'm like the rest of you. I heard that story. I'm getting ready to do TV."

It appears Payton will have plenty of flexibility in 2023 to get back into coaching if he feels ready to return to an NFL sideline.

New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen does not think Drew Brees is making an NFL return.

“I think the comment was made in jest," Allen told reporters Monday.

Brees set off a firestorm Sunday night when he speculated he could return to the field in response to rumors of his departure from NBC.

Despite speculation from media about my future this fall, I’m currently undecided. I may work for NBC, I may play football again, I may focus on business and philanthropy, I may train for the pickleball tour, senior golf tour, coach my kids or all of the above. I’ll let you know

— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) May 15, 2022

Allen's comments are in line with reporting by Peter King of NBC Sports, who wrote Brees underwent left shoulder surgery this month. 

"He’s not playing football," a source close to Brees told King.

The 43-year-old retired from football last year after playing 20 seasons with the Saints and Chargers. While he was still largely effective because of his accuracy and experience, Brees struggled with downfield passing and was a diminished version of himself by the end of the 2020 season.

A football return may seem tempting with Tom Brady planning to play at age 45 and following a debut television season that was, by all accounts, a disappointment. Brees took significant criticism for his performance calling the Cincinnati Bengals-Las Vegas Raiders wild-card matchup. 

Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported Brees was leaving NBC after one season. Brees reportedly preferred working as an analyst for games, whereas NBC saw him as part of their Football Night in America crew. 

It's possible Brees will come into his own as a broadcaster over time, but he lacked the same gravitas that made him interesting during his playing days. 

The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have taken very different paths in the 2022 offseason.

The Saints have overhauled a roster that produced just nine wins a year ago, failing to make the postseason for the first time since a three-year dry spell from 2014 to 2016. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, spent the offseason keeping the proverbial band together, setting up the defending NFC South champions to make one more run at a Super Bowl with Tom Brady under center.

Both teams enjoyed considerable success at their chosen paths. The Buccaneers look a lot like the team that followed up a win in Super Bowl LV with a 13-win 2021 and NFC South title. Tampa is viewed by just about everyone as the favorites in the division—including the oddsmakers at DraftKings.

But after adding impact players on both sides of the ball, the Saints have roared up behind the Buccaneers—so much so that there's a legitimate chance that if Tommy Terrific and the Brady Boys aren't careful, Tampa is going to find itself angling for a wild-card spot and hitting the road for the postseason.

The latest big move the Saints made came earlier this week—per ESPN's Mike Triplett, the team agreed to terms on a contract with veteran wide receiver Jarvis Landry. The 29-year-old Landry, who played collegiately at LSU, struggled with injuries a year ago in Cleveland, but Landry is a five-time Pro Bowler who has topped 1,000 receiving yards three separate times and topped 100 receptions twice.

It's just the most recent move the Saints have made to revamp a wideout corps that was a major weakness for the team in 2021.

New Orleans spent one of two first-round picks on Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave, who Bleacher Report ranked as a top-10 prospect overall this year and the second-ranked wideout. The 6'0", 187-pound Olave, who caught 65 passes for 936 yards and 13 scores in 2021, told Triplett he's looking forward to learning from Landry and Michael Thomas, who the Saints hope will return to his record-setting 2019 form after a pair of injury-marred seasons.

"I can't wait to learn from them, those two legends," Olave said. "I just started playing receiver my junior year of high school. Coming here and having Mike Thomas, Jarvis Landry help me, I have a lot of room for development, I can't wait to max that out. I've watched a lot of film on Jarvis, just his short movement quickness. I watched a lot of film on him in college, trying to take some stuff out of his game. And Mike is one of the best receivers in the game, so of course I watch him. But to see them in person, see how they work in person, I feel like it's going to help me a lot."

The Saints attempted to make a major change at quarterback, as well—New Orleans was one of the finalists for the services of Deshaun Watson before he eventually chose the Cleveland Browns. After missing out on Watson, the Saints turned their attention back to Jameis Winston, who started seven games for the team in 2021 before tearing his ACL.

As Triplett reported, Winston admitted that watching the Saints throw everything including the kitchen sink at landing Watson led to some "tough conversations" between player and team. But after signing a two-year, $28 million deal to return to the Big Easy, Winston said he knows that these Saints are his team in 2022.

"Now, it's just the action," Winston said. "It's just going out there, it's me getting healthy, and it's us going out there and winning games. And making everybody happy. Because that's what it's about. That's how they keep their jobs on the business side. That's how DA stays the head coach. And that's how I stay the quarterback."

Frankly, it may well wind up that failing in their pursuit of Watson was the best thing that could have happened to the Saints. Had the team succeeded, the picks used to draft Olave and a successor to Terron Armstead at left tackle in Trevor Penning would probably be Houston's. There wouldn't have been the cap space to bring in Landry. Or to overhaul the safety position after the losses of Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins with the additions of veteran Marcus Maye and three-time first-team All-Pro Tyrann Mathieu.

Mind you, Winston is himself a former No. 1 overall pick in his own right who has topped 5,000 passing yards in a season and eclipsed 30 touchdown passes. The biggest knock on Winston over his career has been his penchant for turning the ball over, but last year at least that wasn't the case—he tossed 14 touchdown passes over those seven starts against just three picks.

Provided that his rehab continues to progress well (Winston has said he intends to be full-go for training camp), there's no reason to think that given the improved passing-game weaponry at his disposal Winston can't have success. Considerable success, even.

All told, general manager Mickey Loomis has done another outstanding job of filling holes and improving the roster. Armstead or no, the Saints should have a stout offensive line—especially if Penning can bring the mean streak he had in college to the pros. The receivers are exponentially better than a season ago. The Saints were seventh in the league last year in total defense and added depth in the secondary on Day 2 of the 2022 draft with Tennessee's Alontae Taylor.

It's a roster without any weak spots that stand out.

Of course, the same thing can be said about the Buccaneers. There's a reason why no team in the NFC has better Super Bowl odds than Tampa, and it's not just because the team is led by the greatest quarterback to ever lace them up.

The Buccaneers had the NFC's No. 1 run defense last year and the league's second-best offense in terms of both yards and points per game. Once Brady decided to come back for one more year, quite a few of his teammates followed suit. The Buccaneers are loaded.

However, there's a difference between loaded and invincible.

The Buccaneers offset the loss of both starting guards from a year ago with a trade for Shaq Mason and the addition of second-rounder Luke Goedeke, but whether it's Goedeke or Aaron Stinnie starting the interior of the offensive line is a question mark. It's a similar story on the defensive line, where rookie Logan Hall is being counted on the step into the void left by Ndamukong Suh (who remains a free agent). Tampa's pass defense wasn't great last season, finishing the year 21st in the league.

It's not as if the Saints haven't shown they can give Brady's Buccaneers all they can handle. Since Brady took the reins in Tampa, the Bucs and Saints have squared off five times. The Buccaneers ended New Orleans' season in the divisional round of the 2020 playoffs, but the Saints were victorious in all four regular-season meetings.

There are questions that still need to be answered in New Orleans.

Star running back Alvin Kamara could be facing a suspension after an offseason arrest on a felony charge for battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. For the first time since the Bountygate season of 2012 (and just the second time since 2006), the Saints will open the season without Sean Payton as head coach. Dennis Allen has experience in that regard, but he also struggled in his stint as head coach of the Raiders, winning just eight of 36 games.

This time around, though, Loomis has set both Allen and Winston up to succeed. The quarterback has ample passing-game weaponry and a solid offensive line protecting him. The defensive-minded head coach has a top-10 unit on that side of the ball that can play both the run and the pass.

These Saints are every bit as balanced and talented as the squad that won 12 games and the NFC South two years ago. So while many may have all but given the division to Brady and the Bucs, they are doing so prematurely.

The Saints may well go marching into the playoffs once again in 2022.

Former NFL quarterback Drew Brees had left shoulder surgery May 2, roughly two weeks before the 43-year-old brought up the idea of playing again in a pair of tweets, according to Peter King of NBC Sports:

One friend of Brees told me Sunday he hasn’t mentioned playing to him this offseason, and his left shoulder surgery May 2, at age 43, after not playing football for 16 months, would seems to make a return to football problematic at best. Another person who knows Brees told me Sunday night, 'He’s not playing football.'

Brees, a 13-time Pro Bowler who retired in March 2021 after 20 NFL seasons, brought up the idea of playing again while referencing his old team's signings of wide receiver Jarvis Landry and safety Tyrann Mathieu, as well as rumors that he was out after one season as an NBC broadcaster.

Man..signing @juice_landry and @mathieu_era makes me want to come back and play again!!! Great additions…leaders and players! https://t.co/ARvwQbnPUU

— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) May 15, 2022

Despite speculation from media about my future this fall, I’m currently undecided. I may work for NBC, I may play football again, I may focus on business and philanthropy, I may train for the pickleball tour, senior golf tour, coach my kids or all of the above. I’ll let you know

— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) May 15, 2022

Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported Sunday that Brees' tenure as an NBC studio and game analyst was done after just one season in a decision he called "mutual."

For numerous reasons, a return to the playing field doesn't seem plausible.

For starters, it seems unlikely that Brees would return to the Saints, who signed expected starter Jameis Winston to a two-year, $28 million contract.

Brees could head elsewhere, but as Trey Wingo of Pro Football Network and Caesars Sportsbook noted, that seems unlikely:

5 of the 13 5,000 passing yard seasons in NFL history belong to Brees. But he had shoulder surgery earlier this month, is 43 and hasn’t played football in almost 17 months. A return to the field seems like a long shot https://t.co/EMqyMwrIlM

— trey wingo (@wingoz) May 16, 2022

Brees could still sling the ball when his career ended. He ranked sixth in quarterback rating (106.4) and ESPN's QBR (68.3) during his final season en route to leading the Saints to a 12-4 record.

That performance capped a career that included 80,358 passing yards (seven passing yards titles), 571 touchdowns and a 67.7 percent completion rate.

Brees, who played five seasons with the then-San Diego Chargers before 15 more with the Saints, also led New Orleans to the Super Bowl XLIV title.

Signs ultimately point to his playing career being over, but regardless of what path Brees chooses next, a trip to Canton, Ohio, for an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame should be on the ledger in a few years.

Wide receiver Jarvis Landry is heading back to his home state after the New Orleans Saints signed the free agent to a contract, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Landry, who was born and raised in Louisiana and went to LSU, now joins a Saints team with a potentially explosive offense. Quarterback Jameis Winston and wide receiver Michael Thomas appear ready to return and join a crew that includes running back Alvin Kamara, wide receiver Chris Olave and one of the NFL's best offensive lines.

From a fantasy perspective, let's take a look at Thomas and Winston in particular post-Landry signing.

The FantasyPros points-per-reception rankings have Thomas 47th overall and 22nd among wide receivers. Winston is 153rd overall and 23rd among quarterbacks.

In other words, Thomas is seen as a borderline WR2/flex option, while Winston is a backup quarterback at best and a midseason waiver-wire pickup at worst.

Thomas is a massive question mark heading into 2022. He had ankle surgery and then suffered a setback with his injury and missed the entire 2021 season.

That same ankle injury held him to just seven games during the 2020 season.

When healthy, Thomas is one of the best wide receivers in football and a major fantasy asset. He caught an NFL record 149 passes for 1,725 yards in 2019 en route to Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Prior to that season, the ex-Ohio State star posted a 17-game average of 116 catches and 1,370 yards.

Thomas appears to be on track to return in 2022, per Saints head coach Dennis Allen on the Rich Eisen Show May 6.

"That would be our hope," Allen said when asked about Thomas' Week 1 status (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk).

"We feel good about what Mike’s done in the rehab process. There’s still a few hurdles that we’ve got to climb, with any of our guys that had any injuries they’re trying to get back from."

If Thomas is good to go, don't expect another massive fantasy season. As Mike Clay of ESPN noted, the Saints have a lot of players to make happy with Landry in the mix.

If everyone is healthy, the Saints have a lot of mouths to feed:
Alvin Kamara: ~20% target%
Michael Thomas ~25%
Chris Olave ~20%
Jarvis Landry ~20%
Trautman&TEs: ~18%
+Ingram/FB/other WRs: ~10%

Math doesn't work.

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) May 13, 2022

At the same time, having Landry on the field can help take some focus on Thomas, who could have more room to operate in the secondary.

Ultimately, Thomas is an incredible talent as evidenced by his first four NFL seasons. If training camp news points toward all systems go for Week 1, then he's a WR2 in PPR leagues at worst.

Like Thomas, Winston has the chance to be the fantasy comeback player of the year.

He suffered a torn ACL and MCL damage during an Oct. 31, 2021 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and missed the remainder of the season. However, Winston appears well on track to be QB1 for Week 1, per Allen (h/t Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk):

There’s a lot of days between now and Week 1, but we certainly like where he’s at right now. We like the progress that he’s making. Man, I really loved a lot of the things that he did last year for us—14 touchdowns, three interceptions. There was just some really good stuff that you see. and my vision and my hope is that he continues to progress on the same level as he gets another year in the system.

Winston's last full season as a QB1 came with the 2019 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when he threw for 33 touchdowns, 30 interceptions and 5,109 passing yards. He was the No. 5 quarterback in all of fantasy football that year.

That Bucs team had a dynamic pass-catching duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The 2022 Saints will have Thomas (presumably), potential star rookie Chris Olave out of Ohio State and now Landry. That's a fantastic trio to work with, and it's clear the Saints' pass-catching corps will be a massive upgrade this year.

Winston didn't post gaudy stats in his seven games in New Orleans last year (167.1 passing yards per game), but he showed far more patience and less risk-taking (14:3 TD:INT ratio.)

If you combine the best of 2019 Winston and 2021 Winston, then we could be seeing a potential fantasy superstar.

Having Landry, a possession receiver with a 17-game average of 95 receptions over his eight-year NFL career, can only help Winston. He should serve as a security blanket for Winston to help matriculate the ball down the field and keep a potentially explosive offense moving.

Consider Winston a solid QB2 entering this season. There's so much quarterback talent in the league these days that Winston can't be considered a QB1, but Winston could very well break out and enter that sphere by the end of the season if everyone stays healthy.

New Orleans Saints fans are already salivating at the potential for Jameis Winston to have an MVP season following the addition of wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

Landry joined the Saints on a one-year deal, Pro Football Network's Aaron Wilson reported Friday. The former Cleveland Browns wide receiver later confirmed the news in a tweet. 

Landry will be one of Winston's top targets in 2022 alongside Michael Thomas and rookie Chris Olave. That said, fans believe Winston, a former Pro Bowler, will put together his first season of more than 4,500 passing yards since 2019 en route to winning MVP.

Jameis Winston is winning the MVP

— JD (@HDakessian) May 13, 2022

Jameis Winston throwing to Olave, Landry, and Thomas for 4.5K if healthy. https://t.co/tFxRGFAJ1p

— JRSportBrief (@JRSportBrief) May 13, 2022

Jameis Winston will win MVP this season

— A-Train (@A_TrainRagas) May 13, 2022

jameis winston eyeing that QB1 spot

— Animal (@maxtheanimal99) May 13, 2022

https://twitter.com/cantblockjosh/status/1525212656424128512

jameis winston 5k yard szn might go crazy

— Le5-6 (@deepyy_) May 13, 2022

https://twitter.com/blachowsky22/status/1525212459992289281

@Jaboowins going to be COOKIN this season 4,000 yard season incoming

— Erick Garcia (@E_Garcia61) May 13, 2022

https://twitter.com/TaysomSon445/status/1525210642889723908

It’s about to be scary 😱 @Jaboowins about to show out‼️ #WhoDat⚜️ https://t.co/AoVYASRpze

— Harold Reese Johnson (@GeauxLSUH) May 13, 2022

If Winston stays healthy, there's no reason to believe he can't throw for at least 4,500 yards with a receiving group that includes Thomas, Landry and Olave. Thomas and Landry have combined for eight Pro Bowls, while Olave, the 11th overall pick in the 2022 draft, torched defenses during his college career at Ohio State. 

Winston could also win the Comeback Player of the Year award after suffering a torn ACL last season. The 28-year-old went 5-2 and completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,170 yards and 14 touchdowns against three interceptions before being sidelined. 

The 2015 first overall pick didn't have as potent of a receiving group in 2021, so the potential for him to excel in 2022 is through the roof. 

Bettors, adjust your Offensive Rookie of the Year expectations accordingly. Wide receiver Chris Olave landed in a spot where he can immediately shine as one of the focal points in an offense.

In the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints traded up for Olave, moving from No. 16 to the Washington Commanders' slot at No. 11.  

This offseason, wide receivers stole the spotlight as teams traded star players such as Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill and A.J. Brown. All three big-name pass-catchers signed lucrative deals with their new teams. In need of offensive playmakers, the Saints made a move for a wide receiver high on their draft board.

As The Athletic's Katherine Terrell points out, Olave will likely see plenty of targets right away.

"The Saints are going to expect Olave to play early and often," Terrell wrote. "They feel like they are a team that can contend for the playoffs again this year if they can stay healthy, and the wide receiver cupboard was bare enough that he can get his share of catches right away."

For the 2021 season, running back Alvin Kamara led the Saints in catches with 47, and wide receiver Marquez Callaway had a team-leading 698 receiving yards. 

Obviously, the Saints desperately needed pass-catchers, so Olave will fill a huge void on offense. Fortunately for the team, he has the skill set to fill that need and produce gaudy numbers.

As a sophomore at Ohio State, Olave became a consistent contributor and big-play receiver who led the program's offense in receiving yards (849) and touchdown receptions (12) for the 2019 term. He topped the Buckeyes' pass-catching group in both receiving categories and in catches (50) for the 2020 campaign.

In 2021, Olave had to share targets with fellow first-rounder Garrett Wilson, whom the New York Jets selected at No. 10, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who's a potential top-10 pick in next year's draft. Yet, he made the most of his opportunities in the passing game, registering a personal high in touchdown receptions (13) through a single collegiate term.

Averaging 15.4 receiving yards per outing in his college career, Olave knew how to beat defenders downfield, and despite his thin frame (6'0", 187 lbs), he frequently found the end zone. Pro Football Focus tracked his big-play receiving numbers on 20-plus-yard receptions since his sophomore season: 

Chris Olave on 20+ yard targets since 2019:

🥇 29 catches (1st)
🥇 1,054 yards (1st)
🥇 19 TDs (1st)pic.twitter.com/q2dtZ8wT5E

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 14, 2022

Pro Football Focus also noted Olave's success against one-on-one coverage, which tops all collegiate receivers in scoring production since 2019:

Chris Olave: 12 receiving TDs against single coverage since 2019

Most among all WRs in College Football🔥 pic.twitter.com/YeYWRwhGOS

— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 25, 2022

How does Olave do it? 

Bleacher Report NFL scout Nate Tice highlighted the wideout's ability to separate with precise routes, an understanding of how to break down coverages and a physical part of his game.

"Olave is a great route-runner with polish. He shows an understanding of not only the routes he runs, but the concept that the offense is running and will tempo his routes accordingly.

"Olave plays with balance and body control, which allows him to battle through contact and also attack defenders vertically before running by them or uncovering on a route. His understanding of space is on display when he's asked to run more 'advanced' routes and also during scramble drills, where he has to find unoccupied areas of the field."

Olave's traits and qualities should translate at the pro level. As he transitions from a loaded wide receiver corps at Ohio State to a depleted group in New Orleans, the talented wideout should see a spike in his receiving volume. 

Even with Olave's skill set, someone has to deliver well-placed targets and deep balls to elevate his numbers. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year, had Joe Burrow under center. The Saints hope to welcome back big-arm quarterback Jameis Winston after he tore his ACL in Week 8 of the 2021 season.

On The Rich Eisen Show, head coach Dennis Allen spoke about Winston's recovery (h/t NFL.com's Grant Gordon).

"Well, certainly that's certainly the plan," Allen said about Winston's status for the season opener. "There's a lot of days between now and Week 1, but we certainly like where he's at right now. We like the progress that he's making."

In his first year as a starter for the Saints, Winston threw for 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions through seven outings. He didn't throw for more than 280 yards in any of the games, but the eighth-year veteran had four- and five-touchdown performances despite a limited pass-catching group without wideout Michael Thomas, who missed the entire 2021 campaign because of ankle surgery and then a setback while on the mend.

With Olave in the fold, Winston should be able to push the ball downfield a lot more in the upcoming season. Though former Saints head coach and lead play-caller Sean Payton retired, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael will take over full-time play-calling responsibilities, which maintains a bit of continuity on offense. He's called plays for full games in the past.

In 2006, Payton added Carmichael to his Saints coaching staff. The latter served as a quarterbacks coach and a passing game coordinator before he became the offensive coordinator in 2009. With 16 years under Payton, Carmichael could carry over some concepts and designs that worked for Winston last year.

If Winston plays comfortably in the offense, we could see him perform at a level closer to his 2019 form when he threw for a league-leading 5,109 yards. In that year, the signal-caller had two receivers (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin) with at least 1,157 yards and eight touchdowns. Of course, the Saints would want Winston's 33 touchdown passes but not the 30 interceptions that came with all of that passing production.

Winston finished a shortened 2021 campaign with a 1.9 percent interception rate—his lowest frequency as a primary starter. With better decisions in the pocket, he could have a bounce-back year with Olave as the top beneficiary.

At this point, Allen seems optimistic about Thomas' return for Week 1, but on Eisen's show, he also said (via Terrell) that the wide receiver has a few "hurdles"—as any injured player does—while on the mend. 

Thomas has already gone through complications in a lengthy recovery process, though. The former suffered a setback in an effort to return last year, and he hasn't played a down since January of 2021 in the playoffs.

Even if Thomas suits up for Week 1, he may have to knock off some rust because of a long stretch on the sideline. The two-time All-Pro isn't familiar with Winston as the leader in the huddle during live action. The veteran quarterback could develop an immediate rapport with Olave, who's healthy and ready to play.

Moreover, the Saints may have to lean on the passing game without Kamara for several games in 2022. He faces a felony charge of battery resulting in substantial bodily harm and a gross misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit battery. Kamara has a hearing for the case on Aug. 1. The league could suspend him for violating the conduct policy.

If Kamara cannot play for a notable stretch, don't expect the Saints to hand the ball off to 32-year-old Mark Ingram II 20-plus times. Fellow backup running back Tony Jones Jr. only averaged 2.6 yards per carry last year.

Without Kamara, Winston would likely take on a bigger responsibility in moving the ball through the air, which potentially creates more opportunities for Olave.

Because of the uncertainty around Kamara and Thomas, Olave has a good chance to take home Offensive Rookie of the Year. Even if Winston has to miss a few games while on the mend, the Saints have an experienced backup quarterback in Andy Dalton, who doesn't threaten defenses over the top but throws a fairly accurate ball. He completed at least 63.1 percent of his passes as a fill-in starter for each of the past two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears.

This year's top quarterbacks, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder and Malik Willis, all have to beat out veteran signal-callers to see the field. The Jets picked Breece Hall, the top running back, in the second round, and he'll split carries with Michael Carter. 

With the Atlanta Falcons, fellow first-round wideout London Drake has a quarterback in Marcus Mariota, who hasn't started in a game since 2019. In New York, Wilson would need quarterback Zach Wilson to make a significant second-year leap after he threw for just nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2021. Treylon Burks could be the Tennessee Titans' No. 1 wide receiver, but the club employs a run-heavy offense with Derrick Henry.

As at least the No. 2 wide receiver on the Saints' depth chart, Olave's case for Offensive Rookie of the Year looks more appealing because of his potential for early opportunities and a bigger workload.  

    

College statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.

New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen is hopeful Jameis Winston will be ready to serve as the team's starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2022 season.

Winston suffered a torn ACL in an Oct. 31 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He re-signed with the Saints in March on a two-year, $28 million contract, and Allen confirmed Thursday on the Rich Eisen Show (via Grant Gordon of NFL.com) things are trending in a positive direction.

"Well, certainly that's certainly the plan," Allen said about Winston leading the offense in Week 1. "There's a lot of days between now and Week 1, but we certainly like where he's at right now. We like the progress that he's making."

The 28-year-old Florida State product was off to a promising start last season after taking the reins of the offense for the retired Drew Brees. He completed 59 percent of his throws for 1,170 yards with 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions in seven games.

His limited number of turnovers was a great sign after throwing 30 picks in 16 games with the Bucs in 2019 in his last extended run of starts.

"Man, I really loved a lot of the things that he did last year for us—14 touchdowns, three interceptions," Allen said. "There was just some really good stuff that you see. And my vision and my hope is that he continues to progress on the same level as he gets another year in the system."

The Saints brought in veteran Andy Dalton as an insurance policy in case Winston's recovery doesn't progress as expected, and they also have 2021 fourth-round pick Ian Book on the roster as a developmental option.

Taysom Hill, who lost the competition to Winston in the bid to replace Brees, has switched to tight end on a full-time basis. He brings the most value to New Orleans as a multifaceted playmaker rather than a backup quarterback.

A healthy Winston combined with Hill in his do-it-all role and a group of playmakers that includes Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, Michael Thomas, Chris Olave and Marquez Callaway should give the Saints plenty of offensive upside in 2022.

The outlook wouldn't be as favorable with Dalton or Book under center.

The New Orleans Saints used their two first-round picks in the 2022 NFL draft to improve their offense by selecting wide receiver Chris Olave and offensive tackle Trevor Penning.

They then turned to free agency to improve their defense Monday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the NFC South team and safety Tyrann Mathieu agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract with $18 million fully guaranteed. According to Spotrac, the team's total salary cap was $216.6 million before the reported signing.

Here is a look at the defensive depth chart in New Orleans:

LDE: Cameron Jordan, Tanoh Kpassagnon

LDT: David Onyemata, Kentavius Street

RDT: Shy Tuttle, Albert Huggins

RDE: Marcus Davenport, Payton Turner

LB: Demario Davis, Zack Baun

LB: Pete Werner, Kaden Elliss

LCB: Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor

SS: Tyrann Mathieu, Daniel Sorensen

FS: Marcus Maye, P.J. Williams

RCB: Marshon Lattimore, Bradley Roby

SCB: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, P.J. Williams

There is plenty to like about the Saints' prospects heading into the 2022 campaign.

They brought back quarterback Jameis Winston after the team went 5-2 with him as a starter prior to his torn ACL last year. They also figure to get star wide receiver Michael Thomas back after he missed the entire 2021 campaign, and the attention he draws will open up space for Olave to thrive as a rookie receiver.

Throw in notable names such as Alvin Kamara, Cameron Jordan and Marshon Lattimore, and there is plenty of star power.

Mathieu represents even more star power.

The 29-year-old is a three-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro selection who helped lead the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl title during the 2019 campaign. He has played for the Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans throughout his career and now returns to Louisiana where he played collegiately at LSU as a consensus All-American.

Mathieu appeared in 16 games for Kansas City this past season and finished with 76 tackles, six passes defended, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, one sack and one defensive touchdown.

Another Pro Bowl season like that could help the Saints challenge for an NFC South crown even in a division featuring Tom Brady on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.          

Tyrann Mathieu has agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Schefter noted the deal, which still needs to be finalized, will include $18 million fully guaranteed.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network previously reported a deal was expected to be finalized "in the coming days."

The veteran safety fills a significant need for New Orleans, which failed to address the position in the 2022 NFL draft.

The 29-year-old lived up to his last three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, earning first-team All-Pro honors in both 2019 and 2020. He was selected to his third career Pro Bowl in 2021 after totaling 76 tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and one sack.

Kansas City signed the safety to help fix a defense that finished 24th in the NFL in points allowed in 2018. The unit turned things around with Mathieu anchoring the secondary, ranking in the top 10 in points allowed the past three years. The Chiefs also reached the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons, winning one title.

Mathieu set a career-high with six interceptions in 2020, returning one for a touchdown while adding 62 tackles and one fumble recovery.

Despite the success on the field, the two sides were unable to work out an extension.

General manager Brett Veach described the salary-cap situation last August as "super tricky," per Adam Teicher of ESPN. 

It became clear heading into free agency that Mathieu would not return, especially with his message on Twitter:

pic.twitter.com/acIULNIetG

— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) March 5, 2022

Kansas City added Justin Reid in free agency while Mathieu will get his own fresh start with a new team.

The veteran should make an immediate impact on the Saints' defense as a playmaker who can cover plenty of ground and force turnovers. Even with Marcus Williams leaving in free agency, the league's No. 4 scoring defense shouldn't lose a step.

"The last couple years, they've been like top-five in defense," Mathieu previously said of the Saints. "I don't think they really need me, but it would be good to go back home and help them win."

The move represents a homecoming for Mathieu, who grew up in New Orleans and played college football at LSU. 

It seemingly creates a perfect fit heading into 2022.