Saints: 2021 NFL Draft primer as life without Drew Brees begins
By Darral Nail
Lookings at Saints offseason thus far
Not only were Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis and salary cap wunderkind Khai Harley able to avert yet another seemingly inevitable crisis, but they were able to retain a number of key in-house free agents.
In ensuring the return of quarterback Jameis Winston and safety Marcus Williams, the Saints warded off a pair of glaring would-be holes in the team’s 2021 roster. Turning their attention to key reserves set to hit the open market, Loomis and company were able to ensure the return of valuable veteran players at cornerback, offensive tackle, and running back.
Looking outside of New Orleans for talent, the Saints found enough change between the couch cushions to add fullback Alex Armah, tight end Nick Vannett and EDGE defender Tanoh Kpassagnon.
Armah makes his way to the Big Easy from division rival Carolina, where he helped clear the way for Panther feature back Christian McCaffrey. Regarded as a top blocker at the position, Armah will again ply his trade alongside one of the NFL’s most dynamic offensive weapons in Alvin Kamara.
Vannett, a fifth-year pro out of Ohio State, was brought aboard to bolster the team’s depth behind presumed 2021 starter Adam Trautman, whom the Saints selected in the third round of last year’s draft. Vannett’s signing helps to fill the void created not only by the departure of Jared Cook in free agency but also that of longtime Saint Josh Hill, who the team released earlier this offseason.
Finally, the Saints added a starting defensive end from the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl teams in form of Tanoh Kpassagnon. A second round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen’s unit will pair Kpassagnon with returning rush specialist Carl Granderson as a replacement for departed free agent Trey Hendrickson, the team’s sack leader in 2020.