Will the Saints actually decline even further?

[spurraider21]

They're currently 20 mil over the cap and aren't exactly building on a strong season. They're gna have to cut a bunch of players and foolishly restructure others, which will only ensure cap issues down the line. And this is after a big cap increase from 2014.

A mediocre team with a hideous cap situation.... Given my experience as a Raider fan, I sense some dark times ahead.

[Darth_Pelican]

They're currently 20 mil over the cap and aren't exactly building on a strong season. They're gna have to cut a bunch of players and foolishly restructure others, which will only ensure cap issues down the line. And this is after a big cap increase from 2014.

A mediocre team with a hideous cap situation.... Given my experience as a Raider fan, I sense some dark times ahead.

If Brees doesn't restructure to relieve cap space, they don't have a strong draft and free agent offseason, and suffer injuries again to key additions like Byrd and Cooks, then yes, they will continue to decline. The only silver lining is that the division is complete garbage, so they can sneak into the playoffs at 9-7 and see what happens from there.

Saints fans are used to dark times, even more so than Raiders fans. This has been our golden era, but the window is just about to shut.

[spurraider21]

well that was quick

[Darth_Pelican]

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/3/12/8203041/saints-trade-rumors-drew-brees-brandin-cooks (http://<font size="2">http://www.sbnation.com/2015/3/12/8203041/saints-trade-rumors-drew-brees-brandin-cooks</font>)

Saints willing to trade almost entire team, according to report

By Louis Bien (http://www.sbnation.com/authors/louis-bien)  @louisbien (http://twitter.com/louisbien) on Mar 12, 2015, 3:12p


If your name isn't Drew Brees or Brandin Cooks, get your bags ready.

The New Orleans Saints (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/new-orleans-saints) are ready for an overhaul. After going 7-9 last season, the Saints are reportedly shopping "everyone but Drew Brees (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/1998/drew-brees) and Brandin Cooks (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/246081/brandin-cooks)," according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler (https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/status/576090505567694848). The team has already sent tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/3/11/8190665/jimmy-graham-trade-saints-seahawks-impact) and offensive guard Ben Grubbs to the Kansas City Chiefs (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/3/12/8201959/ben-grubbs-traded-to-chiefs-for-fifth-round-pick) since the start of free agency at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

The quick trigger by the Saints front office suggests that last season really didn't sit well. The Saints missed the playoffs despite playing in perhaps the worst division in the NFL. Their final two losses came by a combined 47 points to the Carolina Panthers (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/carolina-panthers) and Atlanta Falcons (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons), their NFC South rivals

When discussing the Jimmy Graham (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/108518/jimmy-graham) trade, general manager Mickey Loomis said the team wants to place an emphasis on defense this offseason (http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/Mickey-Loomis-talks-about-the-Jimmy-Graham-trade/8fba2e56-897d-4457-987a-9d02349c3976). By acquiring a first-round pick from the Seahawks (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/seattle-seahawks) and a fifth-round pick from the Chiefs (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/kansas-city-chiefs), it appears the Saints are also placing an emphasis on youth.
The Saints bolstered the running game by signing running back Mark Ingram (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/131032/mark-ingram) to a four-year extension and taking one of the best run-blocking centers in football, Max Unger (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/71288/max-unger), from the Seahawks. Those moves, coupled with reports that the team is trying to trade wide receiver Kenny Stills (https://twitter.com/NBCdianna/status/576077445297618945), suggest that New Orleans may be trying to make over its pass-happy, Brees-heavy identity.
Brees isn't going anywhere, but perhaps only because he is owed $54 million over the next two seasons. The 35-year-old will be 37 by the time his contract with the Saints expires, meaning New Orleans may also make drastic moves to prepare for life after their Hall of Fame quarterback is no longer effective.
Whatever the thinking, the Saints are being proactive. We'll see if that's a good thing.

[Pelicans78]

I would imagine Keenan Lewis would be untouchable unless he really wanted to leave like he suggested.

[Darth_Pelican]

TBH I'm glad the front office is finally accepting how many holes this team has and working on retooling it.