27. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (12-6)
LAST SEASON: Extraordinary 2017 draft yielding offensive rookie of year Alvin Kamara and defensive rookie of year Marshon Lattimore propelled Saints back into
ranks of contenders. Fell just seconds short of playing in NFC title game. QB
Drew Brees
Chase Allen Jersey , 39, showed virtually no sign of age, completing NFL-record 72 percent of passes. Offense ranked second in NFL, aided by resurgent running
game. Lattimore and rookie safety Marcus Williams considerably improved pass
coverage, and veteran DE Cameron Jordan had first All-Pro season, highlighted by
13 sacks, as defense improved considerably.
THEY NEED: DE, TE, OL
Jerome Baker Jersey , DT, WR, LB.
THEY DON'T NEED: RB, QB, S, CB.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: DT Da'Ron Payne, Alabama; DE Sam Hubbard, Ohio State; DE Arden Key, LSU; TE Hayden Hurst
Alex Collins Jersey , South Carolina; WR D.J. Moore, Maryland; LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama.
OUTLOOK: During free agency, Saints tried to put themselves in position to draft best players available, regardless of position. Bolstered defense by
signing S Kurt Coleman, CB Patrick Robinson and LB Demario Davis. Added WR
Cameron Meredith and TE Ben Watson to passing game and sought to improve depth
on offensive line with veteran Jermon Bushrod. However, Saints were unable to
sign big-name DE or DT, so those areas could become draft priorities,
particularly in light of coach Sean Payton's recent comments that improving pass
rush is "a must."
AJ McCarron found out he was traded
Chris Jones Jersey , quickly packed a bag, said goodbye to his family and headed out to Oakland to join the Raiders.
As crazy as those first few hours were following McCarron's trade from the Buffalo Bills to Oakland, the whirlwind hasn't slowed down a bit since McCarron
joined his new team.
He had new teammates and coaches to meet and an entire offense to learn in just over a week now that he's Derek Carr's only backup and could be thrust into
action Monday night when Oakland opens its season against the Los Angeles
Rams.
"It's not the easiest thing in the world. I'm trying my hardest," McCarron said. "I've been coming in really early, spending a lot of time staying late.
God forbid something happens, hopefully I can go out there and handle it pretty
well."
The Raiders dealt a 2019 fifth-round pick to the Bills last Saturday for McCarron and then immediately cut E.J. Manuel and Connor Cook, who had been
competing for the backup job.
Oakland had been anticipating McCarron might be available with Buffalo having drafted Josh Allen in the first round and also having Nathan Peterman in
place.
"We kind of had our eye on him," offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "Had been evaluating him through the preseason with the thought that maybe there
might be an opportunity for some of those quarterbacks or one of those
quarterbacks on that team to become available. We had some intel on AJ from
other coaches that had worked with him. But we liked the player. We're happy to
get him. He's been good since he's been here. He's been a quick study in terms
of picking up the offense. He's been in the building from dawn to dusk every
day. Just a real pleasure to have him right now."
McCarron has been working extensively with quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan to learn a complex offense installed by coach Jon Gruden.
McCarron said it's completely different than what he had been running in Buffalo all offseason but he is familiar with many of the West Coast concepts.
The main job this week is learning the language and the formations that go with
the offense.
"I do a pretty good job of managing all that," McCarron said. "When it comes to learning football I think I'm pretty smart. You can only play so many
defenses. It's just being real familiar and knowing the ins and outs of the
offense. God forbid I get in there
Marshawn Lynch Jersey , it's not going to be perfect. But I know how to battle and keep trying."
McCarron had hoped to be the starter in Buffalo after spending his first four seasons as the backup to Andy Dalton in Cincinnati. McCarron started just three
regular-season games and one playoff contest for the Bengals but got a two-year
contract from the Bills that included a $4 million signing bonus.
But that never materialized as the Bills went with Peterman as the starter until Allen is ready to take over, and McCarron now needs to sell the house he
bought in Buffalo.
"It's a business. There's a lot of things that go on behind the scenes. It's part of it," he said. "I enjoyed my time there, even though it was for a cup of
coffee and maybe a doughnut. The people there are great, the fans are really
awesome. We lived in a great neighborhood. It was an awesome city and we enjoyed
our time there."
NOTES: RB Marshawn Lynch has been limited by a groin injury all week but is not listed on the injury report for the game against the Rams. ... RB DeAndre
Washington (knee) is out and DT Brian Price (hamstring) is
questionable.
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