During this offseason, the New Orleans Saints will need to address their pass rush. The NFL Draft and veteran free agents might be their best front office alternatives given the anticipated large cap deficit.
With just 34 total sacks during the previous season, the Saints were 28th in the NFL. More aggression on the DL would be beneficial for the black and gold defense.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen claims that Za’Darius Smith, an experienced edge rusher, would be better suited in New Orleans. Smith is a seasoned, proven player who neatly fills their demand.
Playing in Dennis Allen’s multiple defense would likely be Smith’s one-year deal given the Saints’ cap concerns. Still, considering Smith’s versatility as a pass rusher, I think this fits well. He may be used by Allen as a nose or stand-up defensive tackle, either inside or off the edge. Power rusher He has 60 career sacks (5½ with the Browns in 2023), and with 34 sacks last season, New Orleans tied for 28th place in the sack race. — ESPN’s Matt Bowen
Smith would take over as a key defensive player right away. If he ends up in New Orleans for the upcoming season, he ought to start ahead of Cameron Jordan.
Jordan had trouble in 2023 due to injuries, but he has also gotten older. That is not surprising given his age, but he and Smith as a seasoned team would make a lot of sense. Carl Granderson would start on the opposing side, but both players would remain fresh.
Brandon Little of A to Z provided further details about Smith’s Cleveland performance from the previous year. See what he has to say below.
The Browns traded for Za’Darius Smith because they needed a strong pass rusher to complement Myles Garrett. Smith may not have shocked you with his 5.5 sacks, but they do not provide a complete picture. Smith had sixty QB pressures and was solid in the run game. In 2023, the elite pass rusher demonstrated that he still had it in him, and he should draw a lot of interest from teams looking to sign him. Smith battled through injuries to play 16 games and was a terrific guy in the locker room.
Overall, Smith seems to fit the New Orleans model, and the Saints have a definite need for a pass rusher. Next season would be significantly different if he was on the team.
