The New Orleans Saints have done a lot of work this offseason to revamp their coaching staff, but they have done some work within their front office as well.
Head coach Dennis Allen and executive vice president/general manager Mickey Loomis have both previously discussed the importance of having multiple voices and new perspectives in guiding conversations. Over the last few months, they have filled out their staff with some voices and perspectives coming from high-ranking places around the league.
Ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, the team added former Las Vegas Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler to help in an advisor capacity before eventually hiring him to an executive position as their personnel advisor. Now, per NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan, the Saints have added another former general manager, Randy Mueller.
Not only is Mueller a former general manager, he held the position with the Saints themselves from 2000-2001. He would then go on to be the general manager of the Miami Dolphins and also worked with the Los Angeles Chargers, AAF and XFL clubs at a variety of executive capacities.
Per Duncan, Mueller’s role will be closely tied to the Saints’ “pro and college scouting department”, and he will assist with other “strategic planning initiatives.” Mueller was unofficially with the Saints this offseason as an advisor during the draft, much like Ziegler the year before.
The Saints will now have three former general managers working with them along with Loomis this season. Mueller and Ziegler will join Jeff Ireland, the team’s assistant general manager and college scouting director. Ireland was the general manager of the Miami Dolphins from 2008 to 2013. That is a lot of executive experience to have in your front office as well as some keen scouting eyes.
Quantifying the on-field impact of the move in 2024 will be difficult. But if the team gets down the road this season and successfully manages to add depth and impact though in-season free agency, that could be an indication of the work being done by some of these additions. Otherwise, extra eyes, extra perspectives and even sometimes unfamiliar opinions in the team’s front office conversations could help to steer the team toward new ventures and approaches as it looks to rebound from a three-year playoff drought.
