A position-by-position look at where the New Orleans Saints stand heading into the 2016 offseason – counting down from No. 13 to No. 1 in order of need for upgrades or replacements. At No. 10 are the specialists.
Current depth chart:
P Thomas Morstead. Age 29, signed through 2017. 2016 salary and bonuses: $3.5 million. 2016 salary-cap number: $4.45 million.
K Kai Forbath. Age 28, unrestricted free agent.
LS Justin Drescher. Age 28, signed through 2016. 2016 salary and bonuses: $780,000. 2016 salary-cap number: $890,000.
Analysis:
The Saints have burned through 10 kickers over the past 10 years. And there’s a good chance they’ll go for No. 11 this year. They already auditioned Josh Scobee this week, a source confirmed, though he hasn’t been signed as of yet.
Forbath was decent last year after joining the Saints in October, making 9-of-13 field-goal attempts, including a game-winning 50-yarder against the New York Giants in Week 8. He made 33-of-34 extra-point attempts. So it’s possible the Saints will bring back Forbath as a free agent.
However, New Orleans may look for more of a long-term solution, possibly even drafting a kicker. Last year, the Saints went to training camp with two young, unproven kickers, hoping to find a long-term guy. But they apparently missed the uprights by choosing Zach Hocker over Dustin Hopkins. Hocker wound up getting cut in October, while Hopkins went on to have an excellent year with the Washington Redskins.
The Saints are much more solidified at punter, where former Pro Bowler Morstead has been one of the game’s best throughout his seven-year career. As I wrote earlier this year, it’s not out of the question that the Saints could consider going younger and cheaper because of their salary-cap issues. But I expect them to keep Morstead since they’ve valued him so much for so long now.
Previous rankings: