The New Orleans Saints are preparing for the first season under first-year head coach Kellen Moore.
Moore — who had a long career as a backup QB in the NFL — has emerged as one of the top offensive minds over the last few years and has had success with multiple teams and quarterbacks.
Moore’s rise in the coaching ranks began in Dallas, where he helped Dak Prescott put up historic numbers during the regular season. His name was getting hot during head coaching searches back then, but in a surprising move, the Cowboys moved on from him and he spent a year in Los Angeles with the Chargers.
The new Saints head coach played a key role in the development of Justin Herbert, but when the organization cleaned house and hired Jim Harbaugh, the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t waste time bringing in the young offensive mind.
And last season, Moore was the architect behind one of the top offenses in the NFL as he helped lead Jalen Hurts and company to a Super Bowl win.
The New Orleans Saints are banking on Moore’s success as an OC to carry over to leading an entire NFL franchise.
It won’t be an easy task though, and heading into the NFL Draft, there are major questions about the Saints’ roster with massive issues with the salary cap.
As of now, it appears the New Orleans Saints will continue to ride with Derek Carr at QB, as they made a point to restructure his contract instead of making a move to move on from the veteran signal caller.
Still, it’s impossible to ignore Carr’s struggles since he joined the Saints. Carr has a (14-13) record since joining New Orleans after starting his career with the Raiders. He’s been wildly inconsistent at times, while looking great at others.
With the NFL Draft just days away, the Saints have been attached to Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.
But Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports believes the Saints will make a shocking trade during draft weekend, and land a veteran starting QB from their division rival.
Benjamin predicts the Saints will trade with the Falcons for Kirk Cousins.
“It's unlikely the Falcons would trade Cousins to a division rival,” he wrote, “but then again, is it? Atlanta didn't value Cousins enough to keep him in the lineup for even one full season of his $180 million contract, so if the team can squeeze anything of value out of an NFC South foe for a damaged asset, why not?
"Still, this would make more sense if Cousins is outright released. New coach Kellen Moore needs something under center with Derek Carr going from disgruntled to curiously injured, and Cousins is the kind of proven play-action veteran who could hold down the fort while the Saints get things in order for the future. As a bonus, he'd probably relish games against the Falcons.”