Tuesday, May 23, 2023

New Orleans Saints Post-Draft 2023 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a post-draft roundup for the New Orleans Saints in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 21

Most improved: Quarterback

The Saints have been looking for a quarterback since Drew Brees retired after the 2020 season, starting four players in 2021 and two in 2022. The Saints went and got their guy when they signed Derek Carr this offseason, and it should be a significant upgrade over the combination of Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston last season.

NFL.com -- Rank: 18

The uncertainty surrounding Alvin Kamara -- currently facing conspiracy to commit battery and substantial bodily harm charges -- had to be a significant driving force in New Orleans' decision to invest a third-round pick in TCU running back Kendre Miller. The Saints added Jamaal Williams in free agency, but more depth was a necessity with Kamara facing his legal issues and a possible suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Miller's agility and vision helped make him a star in college; the youthful jolt he can provide is welcome news for a Saints running game that ranked in the bottom half of the league in yards per carry last season.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 20

Derek Carr is in as the quarterback, which is an upgrade. The roster has talent, although age is creeping in, so this might be the last chance for some of these guys - even in a bad division.

USA Today -- Rank: 17

QB Derek Carr should be at least an incremental upgrade. WR Michael Thomas should play more than three games ... though decent chance RB Alvin Kamara won't play 15 again (pending his legal issues). Yet Tom Brady has left the NFC South, and a third-place schedule is inbound. Feels like a slight progression to the mean is coming.

The Athletic -- Rank: 18

Draft takeaway: Between Bryan Bresee, Isaiah Foskey and Nick Saldiveri, the Saints seemed to prioritize players with adverb-sounding last names. But for a team that wants to dominate the line of scrimmage, the Saints managed to overcome the loss of their initial first-round pick to strengthen things up front.

Hype man: Have you seen the other quarterbacks in our division? Bryce Young can't see over the top of the podium, Baker Mayfield is a better commercial actor than football player, and the Falcons have that guy whose name I can't even remember. It's Derek Carr's world and the rest of the division is just living in it.

Derek Downer: The only active coach with a worse career winning percentage than Dennis Allen is Matt Eberflus, and he's only coached one season.

PFF -- Rank: 26

After losing Shy Tuttle, David Onyemata and Marcus Davenport in free agency, the Saints desperately needed some impact players on their defensive line. They signed defensive tackles Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd in the offseason, and while both will contribute, they primarily served in rotational capacities with their prior teams.

New Orleans then doubled down on defensive line additions by drafting interior defender Bryan Bresee in the first round and edge defender Isaiah Foskey in the second round. Bresee is coming off a season where he posted a career-high 82.0 PFF pass-rushing grade.

While Andy Dalton performed admirably in 2022, bringing in Derek Carr and retaining Michael Thomas, while also adding running back Kendre Miller in the draft, should take the offense to newer heights in 2023.

PFT -- Rank: 24

A bad division is there for the Saints to win—if old warhorses like Demario Davis, Cam Jordan and Tyrann Mathieu can muster up one more charge, and if Derek Carr can improve a team that was 22nd in scoring last year to middle of the pack.

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