What will Saints do if 2016 is a disaster?
The New Orleans Saints fans may not want to hear this, but it’s time to look towards the future sooner rather than later.
Many thought changes were on the horizon after a third 7-9 season in four years, after this team made the playoffs three straight years from 2009-2011. But Drew Brees was kept, Sean Payton signed an extention (albeit rumors of him going elsewhere in the offseason,) and Mickey Loomis being retained in the GM’s chair.
The Saints did a little bit of both: They rebuilt for the future by drafting talented pass-rusher Sheldon Rankings in Round 1, while adding towering 6-foot-3 wideout Michael Thomas and promising safety Von Bell. At the same time, they went all-in with free agent signings Coby Fleener and veteran pass-rushers Nick Fairley and James Laurinaitis.
So they are built to go for another playoff run in 2016, but what if they fail? Drew Brees hasn’t signed a long-term extension, and fans may pressure the front office to make some drastic changes, which could (for all we know,) involve Payton and Loomis leaving.
Fortunately, this team has a young foundation to lead the team for years. Brandin Cooks (22,) Willie Snead (23,) Mark Ingram (27,) Cameron Jordan (27,) Terron Armstead (24,) Delvin Breaux (26,) Kenny Vaccaro (25,) and the aforementioned Rankins, Bell and Thomas give them promising future.
If 2016 brings another 7-9 non-playoff season, you still have to assume that Brees finishes his career in New Orleans. The Saints are having Brees groom Garrett Grayson to take over the reigns when the former’s time is up.
So if all else fails this season, don’t expect a whole lot to change in New Orleans. They took some offseason gambles on veteran free agents to make the playoffs, but their goal is still on track: To build a long-term contender with or without Brees.
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