JACKSON: Biggest takeaways from Saints NFL Combine availability

By Ross Jackson

INDIANAPOLIS – While the New Orleans Saints do not take the podiums at the NFL Scouting Combine, team executives still meet with local media. This year, general manager Mickey Loomis, college scouting director Jeff Ireland, and new head coach Kellen Moore spoke with reporters.

LouisianaSports.Net was among the select outlets in attendance. Here are the key takeaways.

The Saints look to be moving ahead with Derek Carr as their starting quarterback.

As we reported on Wednesday afternoon, the Saints sound like they are committed to Carr as their starter going into 2025. Both Loomis and Moore have both shared their praise for Carr in the past, but this was the first time since the end of the 2024 season that there was a clear commitment to the signal caller as a part of their upcoming season.

“I think we feel like we’ve got a guy we can win with and we’re excited about that,” Loomis said of Carr. 

As for Moore, the commitment was clear in his comments as well. “I think Derek’s always been a really, really good quarterback in this league,” he said. “And we feel very fortunate to have him a part of this.”

Expect an active, even if fiscally responsible, free agency.

With Carr expected to stick around, it’s likely that the team will look to restructure his contract or find a way to change his cap hit, which currently sits at $51 million. A restructure of his deal could save New Orleans up to $30 million. With the team currently more than $40 million over the projected salary cap, that’s a huge chunk of change that would allow them to be more active this year than they have been in the past.

That certainly sounds like the route Loomis and the Saints would like to go.

“I think we’ll be able to add a few pieces…So, I expect this to be active more so than last year,” Loomis said.

Don’t expect a full launch into a 3-4 defense.

While New Orleans did hire a coach that has done a lot of work in 3-4 defenses in new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, don’t expect the team to live in three-man fronts for an entire game on defense.

“I think at the end of day, you’re going to win the game and lose the game in nickel,” Moore said. “4-2-5…Now, your other moves, whether they be 4-3 or 3-4, certainly there’s flexibility within that.”

It sounds like there will definitely be changes in the scheme, but expect 4-2-5 nickel defenses to still have a major presence in the defense, as is the case across the league.

New prototypes on defense may be on the way.

Even if the scheme changes aren’t Earth-shattering, adding Staley will absolutely introduce new roles. That should have an impact with prototypes, as well. Prototypes are dictated by what works in the NFL, but new roles will open the door to additional prototypes having a place in the defense.

“We’re looking for different (prototypes for) ends and different nose tackles and different linebackers, so that’s where they change,” said Ireland.

Taysom Hill’s future is in New Orleans, health providing.

It doesn’t sound like the Saints have any interest in moving away from the do-it-all star. However, it will be his injury recovery that will most dictate the future. Loomis said that all signs are positive at this time, which is good news. Moore also gave a slight indication that the team is looking forward to incorporating Hill and his many talents in the offense again.

“His versatility, his ability to play in multiple spots, has been a huge asset forever,” Moore said. “So, anytime you have an opportunity to have one of those guys on the field, we’d love to have that.”

Tight end to be a big focus this offseason.

While the future for Hill is up in the air because of injury, the rest of the tight end room could see flux. Foster Moreau, also coming off of injury, is the only other experienced veteran in the room, as Juwan Johnson prepares to head to free agency. The Saints are interested in addressing this position, possibly more than once this offseason.

My take is that the team may target multiple tight ends—whether through free agency, the draft, or both—or opt to re-sign Johnson while adding one new player. We’ll see which way they end up going, but it certainly looks to be a position that’s set to get a lot of attention this offseason.

Trevor Penning’s growth and development in 2024 is promising.

While Moore is keeping the door open for all possibilities for the 2021 first-rounder, early indications are that Penning will remain at right tackle. Things could change if the Saints land a big-name tackle, potentially prompting a move inside for Penning, but barring an unexpected development, that scenario seems unlikely. The Saints seem very happy with Penning’s growth since being moved over to right tackle.

“We obviously feel like he’s progressing on a really good path at right tackle,” Moore said. “And certainly feel like there’s a path there.”