5 Saints Who Should NOT Be Back Next Season

Zach Strief

Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints tackle Zach Strief (64) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

With the Saints surprising many people and selecting Andrus Peat with their first pick in last years draft, Strief has to know that this move could be coming soon.

When asked about the pick of Peat, Strief acknowledged it by saying “Andrus Peat will take my job eventually” — explaining that it was his job to just make that eventuality take as long as possible. And he’s right: Peat was drafted to play right tackle, as the next man to play the spot after Strief was gone.

Unfortunately for Strief, it could happen much sooner than he anticipated.

One of the few members left of the 2006 Saints team, the Saints drafted Strief in the seventh round that year, 210th overall.

The former seventh round pick has had a pretty solid career, being a good swing tackle for the Saints in their 2009 Super Bowl run. In the 2011 season, Strief got the starting job, and was part of one of the best, if not the best, offensive line that year.

Strief has protected Brees for years and done a very good job at it. This year though, he got beat too much.

The most memorable time being week 2 against Tampa Bay, when Strief got beat in an absolute “jail break” by Buccaneers DE Jacquies Smith.

Brees got hit, injuring his shoulder and sending a state of panic throughout Who Dat Nation.

The very next week, Brees missed his first-ever game (amazingly) due to injury in his entire 15-year career.

We won’t even mention Strief’s performance against the Texans, in which he got completely embarrassed and MANHANDLED like a small child by Texans DE J.J. Watt.

With Peat going into his second year, and showing some flashes when stepping in at LT and Guard throughout the season, its time to let go of one of the longtime Saints on the team.

As the late, great legendary comedian Bob Hope used to say: “thanks for the memories”……

Cap Savings/Dead Money: Save 1.25 million by cutting him, 3.3 million in dead money.

Next: The Quiet Storm