New Orleans Saints

Jimmy Buffett really knows how to get the fans on his side in New Orleans.

While some musical artists will wear a hat or jersey of the local team, Buffett instead decided to enter Jazz Fest dressed as a blind referee:

Jimmy Buffett really just came out on stage at JazzFest in New Orleans as a blind ref (📷 by @karenswensen) pic.twitter.com/e953mJp8qk

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 5, 2019

He was also accompanied by a pair of New Orleans Saints cheerleaders.

Saints fans have had some understandable anger toward refs after officials played a significant role in the team's exit from the postseason. A no-call on a pass interference arguably led to the squad's loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

Buffett played on that to tremendous applause from the crowd of happy Parrotheads.

The New Orleans Saints are nearing a 10-year extension with the state of Louisiana that would keep the team at the Superdome through 2035, with a $450 million renovation for the stadium as part of the deal, according to Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune.

The current lease runs through 2025.

A new visiting team locker room, a new standing-room only section, additional suites and expanded concourses are among the renovations planned for the stadium.

The proposed renovation project would feature $207 million from the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, $150 million from the Saints and $93 million from the state of Louisiana. The proposal still needs to be approved by the state bond commission, however.

The Superdome opened in August 1975 and has been the home of the Saints ever since, although the team was briefly relocated for the 2005 season because of Hurricane Katrina. 

New Orleans has had one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL at the Superdome in recent years. With the building more than four decades old, though, team and stadium officials believe there is a need to modernize the stadium.

"We felt like if we're going to preserve the life of the Superdome and have it remain competitive for another 20, 25 years, then we need to do something transformative," SMG vice president of stadiums Doug Thornton said, per Duncan. "We're changing the infrastructure compared to what we've done in the past [renovations]. It's not just putting lipstick on it."

Saints president Dennis Lauscha added, per Duncan: "The building has to be modernized so we can improve the fan experience. This is basically a wash for us financially."

A survey conducted by the LSED in January showed that 78 percent of Louisiana residents were in favor of a renovation over building a new stadium, according to Duncan. Officials reportedly estimate that a new stadium would cost over $1 billion more than the renovations.

The Superdome has played host to a record seven Super Bowls and is in line to host Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024. It has also played host to college football's Sugar Bowl since 2007 and is scheduled to be the site of the 2020 College Football Playoff Championship Game. It will also host the men's Final Four in 2022.

If approved, the plan would be for the renovations to be completed before Super Bowl LVIII.

The New Orleans Saints reportedly declined the fifth-year option in cornerback Eli Apple's contract Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

By declining the option, Apple can become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2019 season provided he and Saints don't come to terms on a contract extension.

The Saints acquired Apple from the New York Giants in October for a 2019 fourth-round pick and 2020 seventh-round pick. In 10 games for the Saints, Apple registered 52 tackles, nine passes defended and two interceptions.

Had New Orleans exercised the option, it would have paid Apple nearly $13.7 million during the 2020 season.

Apple entered the NFL to plenty of fanfare as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft by the New York Giants. The former Ohio State standout struggled to establish himself as a quality starter, though, and had just one interception in his first two seasons combined.

That led to New York trading him last season after just two games. With most of his production coming as a member of the Saints, Apple enjoyed a career year with 75 tackles, 14 passes defended, two picks and one forced fumble.

Even so, the Saints struggled against the pass as a whole, as they were 29th in passing yardage allowed and tied for 22nd in passing touchdowns allowed, although some of that had to do with the opposition playing from behind.

Although Apple's long-term future is unclear, he is set to enter 2019 as a starting corner for the Saints opposite fellow Ohio State alum Marshon Lattimore.

A big year from Apple could help him land a substantial contract on the market, or it could compel New Orleans to re-sign him since Lattimore and Patrick Robinson are the only accomplished cornerbacks under contract beyond 2019.

STRENGTHS

—Highly targeted, highly productive tight end in 2018 who heads into the NFL with experience as a receiver and run-blocker.

—Good pass-blocker who excels in line when asked to keep defensive ends away from the quarterback; has a wide base and good hand placement.

—Great at picking up first downs, as he can find the sticks and run a clean route while making himself a good target for quarterbacks.

—Uses arm length (33¾") to go get the ball away from his frame.

—Ran well at the combine (4.7-second 40) for his size (6'4", 249 lbs) and vertical-jumped an impressive 36 inches.

                    

WEAKNESSES

—Not very physical at the point of attack and doesn't seem to like running over the middle; would rather play in space.

—Flexibility and burst are limited; doesn't explode out of breaks or out of his stance.

—Hands are average; no standout drops, but there are focus issues at times, especially over the middle, that leave you wanting more consistency.

—Run blocking lacks power and pop; doesn't look to give max effort when working to the second level.

—Offers limited run-after-catch ability.

              

OVERALL

Notre Dame is renowned as a tight end factory, and Alize Mack will have a chance to continue that legacy, but his tape has given rise to concerns about toughness and drops. That will hurt his stock and is why we're rating him as a late-Day 3 player.

           

GRADE: 5.60 (ROUND 5 — BACKUP CALIBER)

PRO COMPARISON: Jordan Akins

STRENGTHS

—Ideal height, weight and speed for the NFL (6'1", 206 pounds, 4.48-second 40-yard dash); checks every box from a size and speed standpoint.

—Team captain and excellent leader on and off the field.

—Was able to play single-high and box safety while also playing slot cornerback.

—Plays the ball at all opportunities with strips, pass breakups and interceptions.

               

WEAKNESSES

—Injuries to both shoulders in college are a major red flag for a tackler.

—Not a punishing tackler at the finish and looks timid at the point of attack.

—Gets thrown off pursuit angles and eaten up by simple stalk blocks.

—The 4.48 40 never shows up on tape.

               

OVERALL

A well-above-average 40 time had us going back to the tape, but we never saw his speed in coverage or when coming downhill to make a tackle. In fact, too many times Hampton let ball-carriers get into him first. His versatility in the secondary will give him the chance to find a role in the NFL and stick with it, though. Especially with his ability to find and make a play on the ball.

               

GRADE: 5.70 (ROUND 4—BACKUP CALIBER)

                  

PRO COMPARISON: Morgan Burnett

Florida Gators safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 105 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft during Saturday's fourth round.

He slid to Day 3 of the draft despite being projected as a possible top-50 selection.

New @Saints DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson had the draft class' highest grade from the slot among SEC defenders and allowed a paltry 45.4 passer rating on throws into his coverage. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/txDJyOxa5F

— PFF (@PFF) April 27, 2019

Saints had Malcolm Jenkins as a first-round pick from 2009 through 2013. In Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, they got a guy in the fourth round who reminds me a lot of Jenkins. My 35th overall player. https://t.co/z4nXntDbpM

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 27, 2019

As we reported a number of times on The Draft Analysts podcast, character red flags pushed Chauncey Gardner-Johnson out of the second day. Regardless, the Saints selected a tremendous defensive back on day three. Scouting report -> https://t.co/sLsJNnrGRC

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) April 27, 2019

New Saints safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson combine numbers are impressive. pic.twitter.com/aaKSly4OIq

— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) April 27, 2019

ESPN draft analysts talking about new Saints S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson as a guy who played in the slot, in the box in run support and back at free safety. Has great speed and returned three INTs for TDs. ... That kind of versatility reminds me of Kenny Vaccaro.

— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) April 27, 2019

For a team that's only had two picks, in Rounds 2 and now here in Round 4, the Saints are making the most of them. Erik McCoy at 48 overall and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson at 105 are steals. #NFLDraft

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) April 27, 2019

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson as a fourth round pick. If you told me that would happen three days ago I would have laughed in your face. Great pick.

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) April 27, 2019

Gardner-Johnson lived up to expectations at Florida after arriving in Gainesville as a highly touted 4-star prospect as part of the 2016 recruiting class.

The 21-year-old Cocoa High School (Florida) product emerged as a starter for the Gators during his freshman campaign and remained a fixture in the team's defensive backfield for each of the past two seasons, though his role changed at times.

Along with safety, Gardner-Johnson also saw playing time as a slot corner, which helped bolster his draft stock. Tyrann Mathieu, who signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent in March, has illustrated the value of versatility throughout his six-year NFL career.

"I'm the most versatile DB in this draft. That's how I feel," Gardner-Johnson told reporters at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine in March.

"It's big because you can put me anywhere. I'm not limited to one position," he added. "I can be used in base, in nickel. In the nickel, I can cover down in the slot, be in against the post, come off the hash and that half of the field. I can do anything coaches put me at no matter where I go."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBupaocrsLc

The Saints obviously hope he develops into a perennial Pro Bowl performer, but it's always important to consider the potential downside. In this case, his versatility limits the bust potential of the pick since he's likely to carve out a niche for himself, even if he doesn't become a top-tier safety.

Gardner-Johnson should make his initial impact as the team's slot corner as a rookie in New Orleans with Marcus Williams and Vonn Bell locked in as the starters at safety.

STRENGTHS

—Athletic, well-built (5'11", 210 lbs) defensive back prospect who has experience at cornerback and safety, making him perfect for the modern NFL as a matchup defender.

—Shows off good recovery speed on the field and on the track (4.48-second 40-yard dash) with the ability to attack the ball behind him and catch up to receivers.

—H-I-T-T-E-R who isn't afraid of contact and will come downhill with a full head of steam; can play in the slot and work as an extra linebacker.

—Has experience playing single-high safety; showed instincts and range in deep coverage and has the speed to play center field.

—Raw prospect who can be developed into whatever teams need and might be able to play multiple positions in the course of a season; the ideal defensive chess piece to line up across from whatever the offense's best player is.

      

WEAKNESSES

—Could get a tweener label from teams given he hasn't been used exclusively at one position over the last two years at Florida.

—Footwork can get heavy in a phone booth and might not have the short-area quickness to consistently handle slot duties in the pros.

—Aggressive style will get him into trouble; jumps on play-fakes and can get fooled by misdirection.

—Plays a little tall in man coverage, which can cause his transitions to be slower.

—Allows too many runners to bounce off his frame when attempting to make a big hit. Missed a lot of tackles in last two seasons.

         

OVERALL

Gardner-Johnson is a lot like Minkah Fitzpatrick or Jalen Ramsey were coming out of college—fantastic defenders the NFL can’t agree on where to play. Unlike those former first-rounders, Gardner-Johnson doesn’t have great production on the ball or in coverage to back up his versatility. What he does have is excellent potential and versatility, which should make CGJ a top-50 pick.

           

GRADE: 6.90 (ROUND 2—ROOKIE IMPACT)

PRO COMPARISON: Justin Reid

STRENGTHS

—Three-year starter and 2018 team captain who is battle-tested coming out of the SEC as a highly decorated center with some experience at guard.

—Power player with excellent strength at the point of attack to control or move defenders out of run gaps.

—Agile enough in short areas to handle quickness and uses his length (33") well to reach off his outside shoulder.

—Handles head-up nose tackles very well, has the power to absorb bull rushes and can sit down and anchor well against powerful pass-rushers.

—Technically sound base and a quick, impactful punch in pass protection.

       

WEAKNESSES

—Average length and hand size (9 ⅝") a concern without elite agility (i.e. Garrett Bradbury).

—Body control isn't great on the move and gets too far over his pads when asked to pull or trap.

—Can be very tight-hipped when asked to redirect or change direction on the move.

—Isn't always quick to read and react to changes in front of him like blitzes, stunts or delayed pressures.

        

OVERALL

McCoy should be an immediate starter at center if teams are okay signing off on his lack of length and average mobility. He would work well enough in a zone scheme or power scheme and has a projection as an above-average starter at the next level.

      

GRADE: 6.85 (ROUND 2 - ROOKIE STARTER)

PRO COMPARISON: JC Tretter

Jason Dufner knows how to become a crowd favorite.

While participating in the Zurich Classic in Avondale, Louisiana, the 42-year-old Dufner put his veteran savviness on display by wearing a "Saints Got Robbed" hat Friday, via WWL-TV:

Spotted at the Zurich Classic: Golfer @JasonDufner knows what's up! #WhoDat #SaintsGotRobbed pic.twitter.com/NoPsUCQFUa

— WWL-TV (@WWLTV) April 26, 2019

Dufner is, of course, referring to the 2019 NFC Championship Game that saw the New Orleans Saints lose to the Los Angeles Rams on a controversial no-call. The NFL acknowledged after the fact that the officiating crew missed the call, but it was too little, too late for the Saints.

New Orleans could only watch (or not watch) as the Rams fell to the New England Patriots 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII two weeks later.

The New Orleans Saints have reportedly picked up defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins' fifth-year option, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Rankins, who was entering the final year of his four-season rookie deal, played an integral part in the Saints' 13-3 season with 40 tackles and eight sacks.

The 25-year-old has been a full-time starter at defensive tackle for New Orleans since the beginning of the 2017 season.

He suffered a torn Achilles during the 2018 divisional round against the Philadelphia Eagles. Per Nick Underhill of the Advocate, he is expected to miss the beginning of the 2019 season.

"It is possible, and possibly likely, that Rankins will start the season on the physically unable to perform list," Underhill wrote March 1.

However, there is good news: Rapoport reported the option money is "guaranteed for injury," which he called "a sure sign they believe one of the best young defensive linemen in the game will make a full recovery."

Herbie Teope of NFL.com provided some positive updates Wednesday, noting he's been informed that "Rankins is now out of the boot and doing well."

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis told reporters Monday the team is "pleased with [Rankins'] progress.

The Saints need Rankins back to fortify a stout defense that ranked 11th in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average), per Football Outsiders. Pro Football Focus also listed Rankins 22nd among all interior defensive linemen in the league last year with a solid 81.6 grade out of 100.

Michael Detillier of WWL Radio called Rankins "a core defensive fixture for the Saints in the future once he has recovered from the injury."

If Rankins ends up on the PUP list to start the year, he will have to miss the first six weeks of regular-season action, making him eligible to return Oct. 20 at the Chicago Bears.