There's plenty of excitement from fans regarding the 2024 New Orleans Saints. Don't think there aren't doubters as well, though. Some folks believe the team will contend for the NFC South crown, while others expect a lowly season from the black and gold.
Bleacher Report predicts Saints will struggle in 2024
Brad Gagnon doesn't go into too much detail about the team's struggles, but they would need to occur in the first nine weeks of the season in order to "blow it up" at the trade deadline. Check out his explanation below.
Only eight teams have worse Super Bowl odds, but with a core of accomplished veterans in a soft division, it really wouldn't be surprising if they were to win between seven and nine games for a fourth consecutive campaign.
But I get the impression this is a last gasp.
If they're out of the picture by the end of October, I'd expect Mickey Loomis and Co. to make guys like Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, Cameron Jordan, Ryan Ramczyk and Marshon Lattimore available.
From there, they'd tank for a high pick for the first time in decades as they finally accept that this window has to close.
-- Brad Gagnon, Bleacher Report
His description for the Saints is vague, but it's fair. New Orleans could see some early-season struggles with matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles in the first six weeks of the year.
Do I expect New Orleans to be sellers at the deadline? Probably not.
Derek Carr would not be moved at the deadline due to his contract, and Ryan Ramczyk may not even suit up this year, or ever again, due to his degenerative knee injury. Those two are probably off the table.
As for Kamara and Lattimore, they could be on the table if the Saints struggle by the midseason, but you almost have to think that the front office will let it play out with them, too. Both of them have spent their entire careers with New Orleans.
Also, "tanking" is simply not a task that the Saints can afford to do in 2024.
Their QB is playing for another chance to start in 2025, and their coach is on his last leg. Not to mention, there are plenty of folks who are not longer happy with the duties of the front office at this point, either.
Teams do not choose to try to lose, even if they attempt to move pieces at the deadline. For New Orleans, jobs are on the line for veterans and staff alike.
If New Orleans is in a position to sell by the midseason, though, expect Dennis Allen to be at the center of the heat. He's expected by fans to return his team to the postseason, a place they have not seen over the past two seasons.
