New Orleans Saints: A trade for a wide receiver is imperative
By Jason Reed
The New Orleans Saints have the second-best record in the NFC and the best chance of representing the NFC in the Super Bowl but still need to add talent.
The New Orleans Saints have wildly over-performed this season thus far, and that is saying something as the team entered the year as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl.
Drew Brees going down with a thumb injury could not stop the team, at least so far, as the Saints have gone 5-0 in games that Teddy Bridgewater has started with the only loss on the season being the game in which Brees was hurt.
Brees is now set to return either in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals or Week 10 after the bye against the Atlanta Falcons. With a 6-1 record, Brees returning appears to be the start of a strong finish and a great finishing record.
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Although the Saints have overachieved, the roster is still not perfect and could use some improvements. In fact, the team even knows this as according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the Saints have been one of the more active teams before the deadline (h/t Who Dat Dish).
Out of all of the areas that the Saints can improve, the area that should be addressed first is the wide receiver position. If the team does not address the wide receiver position and add some sort of external talent then they are putting themselves at risk.
Leading the way for the Saints’ wide receiving corps is one of the best receivers in the game in Michael Thomas. In that regard, the Saints are just fine.
It is the receivers after Thomas that are a worry. Tedd Ginn Jr. is 34 years old and has not been productive this season outside of Week 1. Tre’Quan Smith is the team’s third receiver but has not played since Week 2, yet still is third in receiving yards among wide receivers.
Granted, the numbers have been lower with Brees out, but the Saints are forced to rely on Alvin Kamara and Jared Cook without a reputable receiving corps. They somehow managed to score 36 points against the Chicago Bears without them, but over-reliance on them could be a problem.
This is going to be something that other teams emphasize in the postseason. Doubling Michael Thomas and utilizing the linebackers to limit Kamara and Cook is going to be the gameplan. Of course, the Saints can still overcome that plan, but not having a deeper receiving corps is making it easier to beat the team.
And even worse, if anything happens to Thomas then the Saints are going to be in a lot of trouble. In fact, it would probably be more detrimental to the offense is Thomas went out rather than Brees, as Bridgewater is a capable backup.
There is no capable solution with Thomas out. That is a big if, but it is an if that can drastically hurt the Saints’ chances without adding some kind of help.
This is not to say that the Saints should go out and spend all of their draft capital in getting a wide receiver. However, they do have to make some sort of move for a respectable second receiver that can consistently be on the field alongside Thomas.
Next. What to expect from Drew Brees in his return. dark
Adding a second receiver will not only improve that receiver as they have Drew Brees throwing them passes but will open up the offense and even help Thomas as well. If the New Orleans Saints don’t add a wide receiver before the deadline I would be concerned.