INDIANAPOLIS — Welcome to the NFL scouting combine.
As players prepare for drills and interviews that could affect the following months of discourse ahead of April’s draft, teams are also quite busy this week. Executives not only speak with this class of prospects, but also spend plenty of time meeting with agents to get an informal start on next month’s free agency.
That’s how the gossip begins.
The combine has become a breeding ground for chatter that will surely spread league-wide. The New Orleans Saints will be a big part of those talks, and there are a number of storylines to keep tabs on as the league’s biggest convention gets under way.
Taylor’s market
Agents use their time at the combine to get a better understanding of what the market will be for their client ahead of free agency. Will there be a demand for Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor? Before the Saints opted to keep him at the trade deadline, the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears were reportedly in the mix for Taylor. There should be no shortage of suitors this spring, but the potential gap in his value will be worth monitoring. The league’s highest-paid nickel cornerback is Chicago’s Kyler Gordon at three years, $40 million — good for a $13.3M annual average value. But Taylor, who has also played as an outside cornerback, just watched former teammate Paulson Adebo sign for an average of $18 million last year with the New York Giants. That’s quite a difference. The Saints tried to negotiate a new deal with Taylor this past season but didn't reach an agreement.
Old guys rewarded
Taylor isn’t the only Saints defender with a possible complicated negotiation. After bounce-back seasons from Cam Jordan and Demario Davis, New Orleans is left in a tricky spot of how much to pay for past performance when factoring future contracts. It’s not often that 36-year-olds get a raise in the NFL, but both Jordan and Davis might not be willing to take as much of a discount this time around. And if they don’t, how many other teams will be interested in them? This week might provide some clarity.
Dazzling defenders?
The prevailing thought, at least among draft analysts and other media members, is that the Saints should look to juice their offense to surround quarterback Tyler Shough with better weapons in Year 2. But if that narrative is ever going to change, the combine could be the start of the shift. This is a strong class of edge rushers — another Saints need — and perhaps the Saints will be tantalized enough by Miami’s Rueben Bain, Texas Tech’s David Bailey or Ohio State’s Arvell Reese to merit consideration when they’re on the clock at No. 8 come April (if any of them are still left on the board). There’s also Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who becomes an intriguing option should Taylor bolt in free agency.
Kamara buzz
NFL.com recently listed Saints running back Alvin Kamara as a possible cut candidate, given the Saints can save $8.5 million with a post-June 1 release. But parting ways with Kamara is not as simple as it seems. For one, Kamara’s $18 million cap hit would still be fully on the books until June, so New Orleans wouldn’t truly benefit from that money until building next season’s roster (or for a rare late summer signing). The better question could be whether Kamara is open to staying on a pay cut, though it’s unclear if the Saints have engaged in such discussions.
Carr interest
If Derek Carr is serious about coming out of retirement, the combine could be a good way to find out if the interest is mutual — meaning the Saints could reap some return in trade. The former Saints quarterback said on his podcast that he’d only do it for a chance to win a Super Bowl, which would limit his market. Will any of those contending teams want to take a chance on a soon-to-be 34-year-old coming off a major shoulder injury?