This month marks the 15th anniversary of the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl championship.
Unfortunately, looking back is currently more inspiring than looking forward.
The Saints finished the 2024 season with a 5-12 record, placing them in last place in the NFC South division. The team finished 21st in the NFL in total offense, gaining an average of 320.1 yards and scoring 19.9 points per game, and 30th in total defense, giving up 379.9 yards and 23.4 points per game.
The season got off to a surprising start with the Saints stomping the Carolina Panthers 47-10, and Dallas Cowboys 44-19. A seven-game losing streak followed, which cost head coach Dennis Allen his job. Assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi was named the interim head coach of the then 2-7 club in Week 10 but was only able to post a 3-5 record to finish the season.
Injuries plagued the team again in 2024 as several key players missed significant time, including quarterback Derek Carr, tight end Taysom Hill, center Erik McCoy, wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, and corner back Paulson Adebo. Too many of those who were able to stay on the field looked like age may have caught up with them as they appeared to have lost a step.
Often during the season, experts and fans argued that sentimental feelings and large contracts for older, big-name players and dead money going to players who were not on the roster and thus not contributing was a major factor in the team’s downward turn.
Although many think the roster needs a complete rebuild, the Saints are not in a position to invest in 2025. According to overthecap.com — a website that tracks NFL teams’ financial obligations — the Saints are $66.8 million over the salary cap entering the 2025 season, including $48.4 million in dead money going to players who are no longer on the team, including Marshon Lattimore ($31.6 million), Michael Thomas ($9.2 million), and Jameis Winston ($7.4 million).
To get under the league-mandated salary cap — which is projected to be $275 million in 2025 — the team will need to sign lesser quality or lesser-known players to fill the roster. In other words, except for the draft and reduced rookie contracts, the Saints will not be able to add much five- or four-star level talent and will have to rely on less talented players next year.
All of this does not bode well when it comes to the team’s chances for recruiting an up-and-coming head coaching prospect to the team, as several franchises in better financial situations are also looking for new leadership.
If there is good news, it is that the Saints will have the ninth overall pick in the 2025 draft and high choices in subsequent rounds. This is the highest the team has picked since 2008, and the 18th time in franchise history that they have had a top 10 pick.
Because of the team’s upside-down finances, it will be of utmost importance to draft players who can contribute immediately, especially on defense. Although he is currently owed $51.4 million next season, it is likely Carr will return as QB. If he is cut after June 1, he will free up $30 million, but the Saints will add $21.5 million in dead money to their tally. Unless they can draft a QB who can start on day one, it doesn’t make sense to let him go.
General Manager Mickey Loomis is garnering much, if not all, of the blame for the Saints’ current situation. It will be interesting to see if he retains his position. But be it Loomis or another GM, the Saints’ chances of climbing into the top half of the league in 2025, much less being a playoff team, look slim.
Chris Price is an award-winning journalist and public relations principal. When he’s not writing, he’s avid about music, the outdoors, and Saints, Ole Miss and Chelsea football.
