Offense 

The first question with this offense is can they get the same level of play out of this OL group. This group played like one of the 5-10 lines in the league last year and while it’s the same group it’ll be interesting to see if they can maintain that level of play considering it wasn’t exactly written in stone they do so last year.

• Personally I LOVE Bolles and Meinerz and I like McGlinchey and Powers so it’s going to be up to Wattenberg to step up and tie that group together which to be fair to him he did last year. 

I look at the additions they made of RJ Harvey and Evan Engram and can’t help but notice they’re trying to bring some explosiveness into their offense. Mims and Franklin were really the only guys they could count on to create big plays within their offense last year. Because of that they were extremely dependent on Sean Payton to scheme up 10+ play drives that kept the chains moving so they eventually could execute in the red zone (9th in red zone efficiency last year). Not only were they dependent on these long drives being well schemed they also put a lot on Bo Nix’s shoulders to execute these plays, especially considering the lack of an effectiveness in the run game (20th ypc last year as a team). When you add guys like Harvey and Engram to your team you increase your margin for error as far as a bad play call or bad play execution goes. You get the ball in their hands and they can make a negative play or slightly positive play turn into a good or even great play. 

There is a scarcity of depth on the offensive side of the ball that does worry me a bit. If Bowles or McGlinchey were to go down you’re counting on guys like Matt Peart or Alex Palczewski to step into their place. If Sutton, Mims, or Vele go down you’re counting on Pat Bryant (who I like as a Vele or Sutton replacement in spots), Troy Franklin, A.T. Perry, or Trent Sheffield to step up. I know Payton believes he can work with nearly any WR group in the league and be successful but I just don’t know how’d I’d feel about trotting out a pairing of anyone of those guys (outside of Bryant) if they were to sustain some injuries, at least long term. The same goes for Engram and Harvey but even more so. If you lose either on of those guys you’re once again back into the position of having to be perfect on these double digit play drives consistently.

Defense 

On the defensive side.. this secondary is absolutely AMAZING. You have the best of the best at CB right now in Pat Surtain II, who may be the only true lockdown CB in the league at this point, and you pair him along side a really solid outside CB in Riley Moss and now one of if not the best CB/Nickel prospects in Jahdae Barron. You can also play Jahdae on the outside if you want and play Ja’Quan McMillian in the slot, gives you flexibility with matchups. One of the best CB rooms in the league last year just added Barron and I’m not what you do to attack these guys.. at least effectively and efficiently. 

• You pair those guys with Brandon Jones and now Hufanga at S this secondary can all fly around, hit, and be lockdown in coverage. 

The only question I really have with defense is how much are they going to get out of their front seven and will it compare to what they accomplished last year. Franklin-Myers, D.J. Jones, Zach Allen, Jonathon Cooper, and Nik Bonitto are all good players so I’m not all that worried, especially with the additions of Sai’vion Jones and Que Robinson plus a second year version of Jonah Ellis. 

• Not so much of a problem for this year but there are some long term questions that will be coming up quickly as far as this group goes. Zach Allen is coming up on the last “real year” of money on his deal, John Franklin-Myers is on the last year of his deal, D.J. Jones only has 2 more “real years” under contract, and Nik Bonitto is also on the last year of his deal.

I’m also excited to see what Dre Greenlaw can bring to this defense. Obviously the injuries are a big concern with him but when he’s on the field this guys flies around sideline to sideline, is a physical hitter/tackler, and also is more than capable in coverage with good zone instincts and athleticism to match in man. If he’s healthy he will add a whole other aspect to this defense that last year they didn’t have with Singleton, Sanders, and Strnad.

Overview 

• Overall this roster is the most impressive when looking at it on paper but when you take into account the strengths they have in certain positions groups (especially on the defensive side of the ball) and the coaching staff they have in place this team will certainly be battling it out in another tough AFC division and overall conference for a playoff spot. The ceiling will really come down to their top players staying healthy and what play they get out of second year Bo Nix. An elite defense and offense hand picked and built by one of the best offensive minds in the game, Sean Payton.