There are plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about the New Orleans Saints this year: a stable of playmaking running backs; the possibility of a fully armed and operational Michael Thomas; and a very vulnerable NFC South greasing the runway for a playoff bid. We didn’t even mention the league’s most consistent defense or the promise in young receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.
But Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox identified one other major factor as a feather in New Orleans’ collective cap as the Saints go into training camp — Derek Carr.
Knox broke down every team’s best reason for optimism going into the 2023 season, and the 32-year-old Carr was the pick for New Orleans. Carr might be coming off a down year with the Las Vegas Raiders, but he’s stepping into a friendly offense with plenty of help around him, to say nothing of the best defense he’s ever worked with. Here’s what Knox had to say about Carr’s outlook in camp:
Look, the Saints haven’t built a perfect team. We can be realistic about this. They have major questions to answer about their coaching staff after poor in-game decisions cost them a year ago. The depth chart isn’t as well-stocked as it could be and a couple of key injuries could derail things.
But Carr’s arrival does suggest the offense can get back on track. If his squad can put points on the board while the New Orleans defense does its job each week, nine or ten wins is possible, and that could be enough to run away with a division title. Whether this all works out in the end is something we can only wait and see about, but fans are right to speak with their chest and set higher expectations for the black and gold this season.
