As we approach the 2024 season, the New Orleans Saints are clearly the forgotten team in the NFC South. Questions such as how will Klint Kubiak’s offense elevate Derek Carr or help Alvin Kamara regain his form are discussion points that don’t take precedent nationally.
Sara Walsh joined NFL Network’s “The Insiders” show to discussion three things learned from NFC South offseason workouts. The number sets itself up to leave a team out, and that team was the Saints.
The rest of the division admittedly has more interesting storylines. Can Bryce Young look like a number one overall draft pick after struggling as a rookie? Tampa Bay is looking for a fourth consecutive title, which has only been done once in division history. The Atlanta Falcons have arguably the spiciest free agent addition in the entire NFL.
The Saints aren’t competing with those storylines. The thing that’s odd is how much distance it feels like is put between New Orleans and Tampa Bay. That could be the grace of winning the division. It doesn’t seem like many think the Saints can be competitive even within the division.
Forgotten doesn’t mean relegated to the bottom, just not often discussed. The Saints are commonly slotted at third in the division. They’re the NFC South’s middle child, if you will. They aren’t the babies. Carolina’s attempt at a rebuild still gets attention. Meanwhile, Tampa and Atlanta are positioned as battling for the top spot.
Nationally, where do the Saints fit in that race and what is there to say about them? It’s on Derek Carr and Dennis Allen to lead them back to relevance.