Saints Insider

Star running back Alvin Kamara left the final practice of New Orleans Saints minicamp on Thursday, a move sources say was part of a contract dispute. Our Saints Insider team of Jeff Duncan, Rod Walker and host Luke Johnson breaks down the dispute, taking a look at Kamara's perspective, the Saints' perspective and everything in between. We also give our takes on Juwan Johnson's injury and what it m...

Minicamp is here for the 2024 New Orleans Saints, and with it the first practices of the season for several players, including Marshon Lattimore and Alvin Kamara. They both spoke Tuesday after practice, and our Saints Insiders dissect their comments and why this is a huge year for both of them. Also covered: • Increasing pessimism on Ryan Ramczyk's injury • Battle at wide receiver with some unsung...

The Saints offseason is entering its final stretch, with mandatory minicamp next week the last step before training camp begins the 2024 season next month. Our Saints Insiders of Luke Johnson, Rod Walker, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing give you some reasons they're optimistic about what the team has done this offseason — and some reasons they're discouraged. We cover: • Early impressions of Kli...

With the New Orleans Saints announcing Thursday that Drew Brees would enter the team's Hall of Fame this fall, our Saints Insiders — Jeff Duncan, Matthew Paras, Rod Walker and host Luke Johnson — use this episode to remember Brees. We talk about how Brees was behind the scenes, what covering his games was like — and we play the what-if game with the end of Brees' career. This is the first of many...

With two New Orleans Saints practices open to the media in the books, the Saints Insider crew of Jeff Duncan, Luke Johnson, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing tackle some takeaways from OTAs: • Who benefits the most from Klint Kubiak's new offense • How the same defense can change the way it prepares, too • What Taysom Hill's new role will include — and what it won't • Has Jake Haener already won t...

The New Orleans Saints have an older roster compared to most of the NFL, and their salary cap problems are well-documented. With that in mind, our Saints Insider crew of Rod Walker, Luke Johnson, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing tried an exercise on today's show: What if you had to draft Saints players based on their value for the next four years? Age, contract status and production were all cons...

The New Orleans Saints held their first open practice of OTAs this week, and our Saints Insider crew of Jeff Duncan, Luke Johnson, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing break down what they saw. One big question: Are the Saints showing us what they plan to do on the much-maligned offensive line, or are they just trying different rotations to see what works? We break that down, answer the Marshon Latti...

The New Orleans Saints have their 2024 NFL schedule, and our Saints Insider crew of Jeff Duncan, Luke Johnson, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing is here to break it down. Is a front-loaded schedule as big of a deal as it seems for the Saints? What are the most important games? We'll take our first crack at predicting a winner for all 18 games and seeing where the Saints end up in 2024. (To see vid...

The NFL schedule will be released Wednesday night. Our Saints Insider crew of Luke Johnson, Matthew Paras, Rod Walker and host Zach Ewing discuss the possibilities for the Saints' opening opponent, what they should want in their schedule and more. Also on this podcast: • Whether trying Tali Fuaga at left tackle is an experiment or a sign of something permanent • Other takeaways from rookie minicam...

Saints quarterback Derek Carr recently gave an exclusive interview off camera to the Times-Picayune. Our Saints Insider crew discusses his comments, including those on exactly how severely he was injured last season, his thoughts on the Saints' results in the NFL Draft, whether he empathizes with Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins and a tense relationship with former Saints receiver Michael Thomas....

After the NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints have seven new players — and still several holes on their roster. So what's next for the team? Where are the biggest needs, and how will they get filled? Could Marshon Lattimore be traded next month? Our Saints Insider crew of Jeff Duncan, Rod Walker, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing give their answers to those questions and more as the unofficial secon...

The Saints Insider crew is back to dissect the NFL Draft. Our crew of Luke Johnson, Rod Walker, Matthew Paras and Jeff Duncan give our report card grades for the New Orleans Saints and discuss how much the team was able to fill its needs with its seven picks, starting with first-round offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga and ending with five Day 3 picks. We'll go through pick by pick with Fuaga, second-...

Our Saints Insider crew of Rod Walker, Luke Johnson, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing goes through the NFL Draft, pick by pick until the New Orleans Saints' turn at No. 14. Who will we take first overall? What big trade is coming? And ultimately, who is left for the Saints to choose from? With the draft two days away, we also offer our final thoughts and predictions for draft day. TO BE ELIGIBLE...

Much discussion has been given to the New Orleans Saints' first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft — and rightfully so. But what about the team's second-round pick, No. 45 overall? Our Saints Insider team of Luke Johnson, Matthew Paras, Jeff Duncan and Zach Ewing breaks down why that pick is almost as crucial as the first-rounder and what the Saints might do with it. Could it be a wide receiver?...

Our Saints Insider crew of Luke Johnson, Jeff Duncan, Matthew Paras and Zach Ewing break down the top six offensive tackles available in the NFL draft, their strengths, weaknesses, style of play and the chances they're available when the Saints pick at No. 14 We dissect: • Notre Dame's Joe Alt • Penn State's Olu Fashanu • Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga • Alabama's JC Latham • Washington's Troy Fauta...

The New Orleans Saints have executed a trade during the NFL Draft for 16 of the past 17 years, so why would this one be any different? Well, for one thing, the Saints may trade BACK in the first round for the first time since 1997. Our Saints Insider crew of Jeff Duncan, Rod Walker, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing discuss that possibility, as well as whether the Saints might again trade up — and...

All coverage of the New Orleans Saints' draft possibilities seems centered on offensive players, particularly offensive linemen. Is there any chance they take a defensive player in the first round? Our Saints Insider team of Jeff Duncan, Rod Walker, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing discusses that possibility, including what prospects would interest the Saints and if there's any scenario in which...

The New Orleans Saints had an amazing draft class in 2017. The six years since have been relatively barren. The 2006 class helped bring a Super Bowl to the city. They've also had several first-round busts. So is this regime good at drafting? How confident should fans be about this year's crucial NFL draft? Our Saints Insider team of Jeff Duncan, Rod Walker, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing break...

Who will the New Orleans Saints take at No. 14 in the first round of the 2024 NFL mock draft? We'll run through a computer-simulated mock draft of the first 13 picks and then make our selection for the Saints. Will it be an offensive lineman like J.C. Latham, Taliese Fuaga or Olu Fashanu? Georgia tight end Brock Bowers? A receiver or defensive end? Our Saints Insider team of Luke Johnson, Matthew...

The Saints Insider podcast is back with Jeff Duncan, Rod Walker and host Zach Ewing. In this episode, the crew discusses:   • Takeaways from LSU's pro day • Dennis Allen's comments on Ryan Ramczyk's injury and impact on Saints' offensive line • NFL rule changes, including a new kickoff that could prove to be an advantage for the Saints • What rule changes we'd make if we were commissioner for a da...

The Saints signed defensive end Chase Young to a unique contract that offers some protections to both sides and allows New Orleans to hope to capitalize on the former No. 2 pick's potential. The news that he's having neck surgery complicates matters, but maybe it's still a risk worth taking. Our Saints Insider team of Jeff Duncan, Luke Johnson, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing dissect the deal an...

Michael Thomas is expected to be released by the Saints in the coming days, and our Saints Insider crew, including Jeff Duncan — whom Thomas insulted on social media upon news of his release breaking — react to his brilliant and then frustrating tenure in New Orleans. Duncan, along with host Zach Ewing, Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras, also dive into: • What's next for the Saints in what has thus f...

Saints beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras return from Indianapolis and join host Zach Ewing for a post-NFL combine discussion. Included: • Is it possible the Saints finally trade down in a draft? • Who are the best fits for what Mickey Loomis and Jeff Ireland look for? In other words, the "Saints kinda guys" in this draft. • Will the first-round pick definitely be a lineman or receiver? •...

One offseason can turn around the fortunes of a franchise in a hurry, as evidenced by last year's Houston Texans. The New Orleans Saints need one now, and they have four good ones in their own recent history. Our Saints Insiders — Jeff Duncan, Rod Walker and host Zach Ewing — relive those and how they can replicate it this year. Also on the docket: • Saints move closer to salary cap relief • Marsh...

With more NFL salary cap relief than expected and a new offensive coaching staff, the New Orleans Saints head to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. How will that change their approach in looking at draft prospects? And might they be more active in free agency than anticipated? Who should Saints fans be keeping an eye on during combine workouts? Our Saints Insider crew answers those question...