The New Orleans Saints plan to hire Brandon Staley as the new defensive coordinator, and the experienced coach could bring some talented players with him.
After being the last team to hire a head coach, the New Orleans Saints now have a head coach and two new coordinators. The Saints hired Kellen Moore as head coach, and Moore brought along Doug Nussmeier as offensive coordinator and Brandon Staley as defensive coordinator. All three have previously worked together, and that’s why the two coordinators were always expected to join Moore’s staff.
Now, they must focus on building a competent roster. With their connections to players throughout the league, they should be able to attract some talented guys to the Saints. Nussmeier and Moore should handle the offensive recruitment, and Staley, who has been a defensive coordinator and a head coach, should be able to get the attention of a few defensive players.
Here are three free agents who New Orleans should hope wants to reunite with their old coach.
3. Asante Samuel Jr. could reunite with Brandon Staley in New Orleans
The Saints will need to rebuild their secondary this offseason. Not only did the team trade away Marshon Lattimore last season, but Paulson Adebo is set to enter free agency. While there’s a good chance he could be re-signed, New Orleans also could be left with just Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor.
If that’s the case, Asante Samuel Jr. could be an option for the Staley-led defense. Samuel was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers during Taylor’s first year as head coach. In the last four years, he started 47 of the 50 games he played in, recording six interceptions and 37 pass deflections.
He only played four games last season because of a shoulder injury, and he’ll now enter free agency as he tries to get his career back on track.
2. Saints could use Morgan Fox
New Orleans really struggled against the run this past season, and that all starts up front with the defensive line. Moving forward, the only interior defensive line that’s probably in the Saints’ long-term plans is Bryan Bresee. All of the other guys are replaceable.
They could be replaced by Morgan Fox, who played under Staley in Los Angeles with the Rams and the Chargers. In the last three seasons, he has 15.5 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss. New Orleans could definitely use that production at the defensive tackle position.
1. Khalil Mack could follow Brandon Staley to the Saints
Of course, arguably the biggest name of former Staley players that’s a free agent is Khalil Mack. Mack has been one of the best defenders in the league for the last decade, and is still producing at a high level. The nine-time Pro Bowler is coming off another Pro Bowl season, and recorded six sacks last season, and 17 the year before that.
He’d address a major need in New Orleans, as the Saints will need an edge defender to possibly replace Chase Young and Cam Jordan. Mack wanting to sign with New Orleans near the end of his career is unlikely, but if Staley could make it happen, he’d immediately win Saints fans over.
