5 Saints Who Will Be on the Roster Bubble in 2015
NFL free agency is right around the corner, but before the New Orleans Saints hit the market, they’ll have some tough decisions to make regarding their 2015 roster.
After entering the 2014 season with high hopes, the Saints struggled through a 7-9 campaign in which multiple players didn’t perform as well as expected.
Several of those players may be on the chopping block this offseason, as New Orleans tackles a dicey salary-cap situation.
The Saints’ 2015 cap number currently sits at roughly $167 million, which is well over what the final cap is expected to be. New Orleans will probably attempt to restructure some of the team's current 2015 contracts, but general manager Mickey Loomis will likely have to make some cuts, as well.
Some of the Saints’ more disappointing players from 2014 are likely to be released (or not re-signed), whereas others will be subject to some extremely tough calls. Following is a rundown of five Saints who will be on the bubble for next season’s roster.
Brodrick Bunkley
1 of 5
New Orleans’ entire defense was substandard in 2014, and the unit's shortcomings began up front, at the point of attack.
Nose guard Brodrick Bunkley enjoyed a nice season in 2013, but like the rest of the Saints defense, he took a step back this past year. He was too often taken advantage of in running situations, and his lack of success contributed, in no small way, to New Orleans’ status as the league’s 29th-ranked rush defense.
It should be noted that his backup, second-year nose guard John Jenkins, fared no better when given his opportunity late in the season, and the Saints defensive front regressed even further with Bunkley out of the lineup.
Bunkley’s contract will cost the Saints over $6 million next season, however, and this makes the nine-year veteran a feasible candidate for a release.
David Hawthorne
2 of 5
New Orleans’ defense was inadequate up front this past season, but the second level of the defensive middle was also lacking.
With 83 tackles, inside linebacker David Hawthorne wasn’t terrible, but his play didn’t validate the $6 million he’s set to receive in 2015.
Hawthorne finished with 52 solo stops and three sacks in 2014, and he often stepped up to deliver some bone-jarring hits. His pass defense was less than desirable, however, and he had some difficulty shedding blocks on more than a few occasions.
With the Saints expected to make some significant defensive changes, the fifth-year man out of TCU may be closer to "out" than "in" for next season, and his status will be one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
Marques Colston
3 of 5
Since Sean Payton and Drew Brees arrived in New Orleans in 2006, the Saints haven’t had a more reliable wide receiver than Marques Colston.
The former seventh-round pick out of Hofstra has amassed over 9,200 receiving yards and 68 touchdowns in his nine seasons, and he’s been a popular third-down target for Brees.
There’s no denying the fact that Colston’s numbers have dipped in each of the last two seasons, however, and the 31-year-old isn’t going to suddenly improve on his declining speed and explosiveness.
The chief issue at hand, however, is his contract, which is set to deliver a whopping 9.7 million salary-cap blow to the Saints in 2015. Given his past contributions, along with his chemistry with Brees, there’s a decent chance that Colston’s deal will be restructured, which would allow him to return for next season.
Nothing is certain these days in New Orleans, however, and the Saints will have to weigh all their options.
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Ben Grubbs
4 of 5
After garnering his second career Pro Bowl selection the previous season, Ben Grubbs was somewhat of a disappointment in 2014.
The Saints left guard was quite reliable as a run-blocker, but against strong interior pass-rushers, he was beaten with regularity.
Make no mistake: Grubbs is still a quality player, and he could serve as an asset to a number of teams next season. He’s set for a $9.6 million cap hit in 2015, however, and there’s a slight chance he won’t be back in New Orleans.
Backup interior lineman Tim Lelito has a low cap number for 2015 ($586,668), and he's demonstrated an ability to play guard in the past. A starting role on the offensive line could therefore be in his near future. New Orleans also appears to be high on reserve guard Senio Kelemete, an exclusive-rights free agent who saw action in 10 games last season.
If the Saints fail to adequately restructure some current contracts, they could be forced to cut Grubbs in favor of Lelito, thus ridding themselves of a sizable chunk of cap space.
Shayne Graham
5 of 5
When New Orleans parted ways with Garrett Hartley in the late stages of the 2013 season, the team signed veteran Shayne Graham to handle the kicking duties, and the 12-year veteran has held onto the job ever since.
Graham is different from the other players on this list in that he isn’t currently under contract and will be a free agent come March. Re-signing veteran kickers to one-year deals is commonplace, however, and New Orleans will have a choice to make regarding the former Virginia Tech Hokie.
After just a few weeks on the job, Graham booted the game-winning field goal in the Saints’ wild-card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in January 2014.
He subsequently signed a one-year deal last offseason before beating out Derek Dimke to win the kicking job this past preseason.
His 2014 season didn’t come without hiccups, however. Graham connected on 19 of 22 field-goal attempts, but he misfired on some very makeable kicks, including a couple that came in crucial moments of games.
After not drafting a top-flight collegiate kicker last May, New Orleans may now be ready to move on and bring in a young, sure-footed talent in the late rounds of the 2015 draft.
Graham isn’t likely to make dramatic improvements on his shaky 2014 form, and kicker is too important a position to ignore. This offseason, the Saints will once again be faced with a crucial decision regarding the role.
Saints' 2015 salary-cap numbers obtained via OverTheCap.com.
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