This New Orleans Saints' offseason is all about putting considerable distance between last season's miserable 7-9 team and the one that began a massive overhaul in free agency and continued to solidify the depth chart in the 2015 NFL Draft.
From trading away tight end Jimmy Graham to the Sehawks in exchange for Max Unger, to drafting immediate impact rookies like linebacker Stephone Anthony from Clemson, cornerback P.J. Williams from Florida State and offensive lineman Andus Peat from Stanford, the Saints are building a roster to better challenge the Panthers, Buccaneers and Falcons in the winnable NFC South.
MORE: Saints draft picks | NOLA: 90-man roster | Hardest, easiest playoff paths | OTA, minicamp schedule
Organized team activities (OTAs) for the Saints are Tuesday through Thursday, then June 2-4 and June 8-11. Mandatory minicamp is June 16-18.
New Orleans Saints depth chart report:
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Drew Brees, 36, is the only QB in New Orleans to complete a pass since 2012. That's a long stretch for the veteran, and with the draft selection of Garrett Grayson out of Colorado State, the Saints could be eyeing the inevitable end for Brees. His cap hit this year is $26.4 million, and in 2016 he'll be owed another $27.4 million. It's uncomfortable — maybe even crazy — to think about the Saints letting go a Super Bowl winner, but after this past free agency that saw Graham moved, LeSean McCoy traded to the Bills and Brandon Marshall pushed to the Jets (among other moves), nothing should be doubted. Starter: Brees
Meanwhile, the Saints are gushing over Grayson, the third-round pick who comes in as the 2014 Mountain West Conference player of the year, beating out Dolphins rookie running back Jay Ajayi for the honor. Grayson, not Luke McCown or Ryan Griffin, is the future. And in New Orleans, the future may be sooner than you'd like to think.
Running back: Mark Ingram isn't letting go of the job, despite the free agency acquisition of C.J. Spiller from the Bills. Spiller's most differentiated asset might be his pass-catching ability. He has 158 career receptions, including 43 in 2012 and 39 in 2013. A broken collarbone sustained in October ended Spiller's 2014 season and with the pick up of McCoy, he immediately became expendable in Buffalo. He's unlikely to steal carries from Ingram, but if healthy, he is a more-than-adequate backup, and his hands will help diversify the offense. Khiry Robinson, Tim Hightower and seventh-round draft pick Marcus Murphy round things out. Starter: Ingram
Wide receiver: Gone is Kenny Stills to the Dolphins in a trade. That is not a major concern, though. Brandin Cooks was having an outstanding rookie season in 2014 before having season-ending wrist surgery. At one point in November, Cooks led the NFL's rookie receivers in receptions (43) despite getting the fewest targets. He was the most reliable of the Saints' receivers, too. His return will be a major boost, and he'll be complemented by Marques Colston and Nick Toon. Starters: Cooks, Colston
Tight end: It may have felt like the bottom collapsed with the blockbuster Graham trade. Just a year earlier, the super-athletic tight end had produced one of the most impressive seasons ever by a player at the position. A sticky period of contract negotiations followed in the 2014 offseason, and a slight dropoff in production last season. But the impetus for the Graham trade was more about the new identity the Saints wanted; needed to create for themselves. A more physical offense with the strength and attitude to run the ball when necessary was a must. Graham, you might recall, wanted to be redefined as a receiver. Blocking wasn't his interest. Josh Hill, 6-5 and 250 pounds, is more versatile and isn't a slouch, athletically, either. His 38-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump are evidence of his physical ability. The 2013 undrafted free agent from Idaho State caught 14 passes for 175 yards and five touchdowns last year and Sean Payton has raved about his future. Starter: Hill
Offensive line: The biggest question: What will they do with Andrus Peat? He was a standout left tackle at Stanford, and the Saints made him the 13th overall pick. However, they have a stout left tackle already in Terron Armstead. Zach Streif in 2014 re-signed with a five-year, $20 million contract. He concedes that his days are numbered, and that Peat is in line to take his job. But, Streif, 31, isn't ready to give up the post just yet. Max Unger came from the Seahawks to bolster the line at center. That leaves the guard position. Left guard Ben Grubbs was traded to the Chiefs. Tim Lelito is the presumed early replacement, but Jahri Evans and Senio Kelemete are in position for jobs. They also signed former Chiefs guard Mike McGlynn, who gave up seven sacks in 2014 and was benched in Week 14 after allowing three.
Streif has never played guard and isn't moving inside. Peat is lauded for his athleticism but hasn't played guard, either. But if the goal is to get the best five linemen on the field, and Peat is the most capable of making a switch, don't be surprised to see him there at some point this season. Our projection: LT Armstead, LG Peat, C Unger, RG Evans, RT Streif
Kicker: Shayne Graham almost lost his job in December. This week, he finally did. He was released and free agent Zach Hocker was signed. Hocker was drafted by Washington in the seventh round in 2014, but he didn't make the roster. He signed a futures contract with the Dolphins, but was released. He gets another shot with the Saints, competing with Dustin Hopkins, who signed in December. Starter: Hocker
DEFENSE
Defensive line: This is a defense that ranked 31st in the NFL in yards allowed a year ago. There wasn't much good going on anywhere, starting up front. Both at end and tackle, though, it appears New Orleans is counting on improved play from incumbents as opposed to strong competition from newcomers. The two draft picks were both fifth-rounders, end Davis Tull from Chattanooga and end Tyeler Davison from Fresno State. Neither is beating out Junior Gallette. Cameron Jordan, a Pro Bowler in 2013 and starter since 2011, isn't expected to be a camp holdout as was projected, and he can't afford to be after seeing his production fall dramatically from 12.5 sacks in 2013 to 7.5 sacks in 2014. Whatever the cause, he'll need to reboot this season. At defensive tackle, Akiem Hicks (ankle) and Brodrick Bunkley (quadricep) are coming off injuries. Assuming they are healthy, there should be a noticeable upgrade along the line, thus making the whole defense's job easier. Starters: DE Jordan, DT Hicks, DT Bunkley, DE Gallette
Linebacker: Middle linebackers are no longer first-round gimmies. The past 20 years have seen an average of only about one a year. But those in the group have been outstanding, players like Luke Kuechly, Patrick Willis, Jerod Mayo, C.J. Mosley last year and ... Saints great Jonathan Vilma. He's the player to whom Saints rookie Stephone Anthony is most often compared. That is pretty high praise, but probably isn't hyperbole. Anthony showed the leadership and play-making ability at Clemson that is sure to translate in the NFL. He has the size (6-3, 243), speed (4.56) and instincts to play downhill and in the open field. He can keep pace with tight ends in the seam, and make stops on screen plays, too. There's so much to admire, there's no way he won't be on the field. The question is where.
David Hawthorne is a steady, dependable player with great leadership and communication skills that Sean Payton likes. He's the most trustworthy today to run the defense from that spot in place of Curtis Lofton. He hasn't made a lot of the big plays that you might anticipate for Anthony, though. If Anthony doesn't grab the inside position, he'll kick outside on the weakside, along with fellow rookie Hau'oli Kikaha, the NCAA's leading rusher in 2014 from Washington, at strongside. Our projection: SAM Kikaha, MIKE Hawthorne, WILL Anthony
Defensive back: Safety Jairus Byrd signed a six-year, $54 million contract as a free agent in 2013. Since then, he has missed 17 games. That's not getting your money's worth. The former All-Pro who twice has led the league in interceptions is desperate for a clean slate in 2015. He has been cleared since undergoing knee surgery in October to repair a torn meniscus. New Orleans has put a great deal of faith (and money) in him, and need to see some returns immediately. Safety Kenny Vacarro experienced a steep decline last season. After playing more of a hybrid nickel/cornerback/safety position in 2013 as a rookie and seeing great dividends, he was forced into a true safety role in 2014 and faltered. He missed 15 more tackles than the year before and had to have a heart-to-heart with Payton.
He has had an entire offseason now to get the hang of things, and with better secondary help from free agent cornerback Brandon Browner and draft pick P.J. Williams from Florida State, he and Byrd should be able to play more confidently while remaining aggressive. Keenan Lewis is opposite Browner. The Saints gave up 262 passing yards a game in 2014, one of the worst in the league. Included in that were 54 passes of 20 or more yards. It's on the entire group, front to back, to shore that up. Starters: CB Browner, CB, Lewis, S Vacarro, S Byrd