By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints are on the outside of the NFL’s playoff picture looking in. Even with a small and quickly closing window of a path to the postseason, extending the 2024 year is unlikely for New Orleans.
But that doesn’t mean this season’s remaining matchups don’t have value.
Over the course of the final three games of the season, the Saints have an opportunity to evaluate their young talent and begin to understand the foundation that’s available to them as they look to build their future. It all starts with the most important position on the field.
QB Spencer Rattler
The injury diagnosis around starting quarterback Derek Carr is unclear. The team maintains that Carr is week-to-week or even day-to-day as he works to come back from his left hand injury. But reports continue to circulate that his return is very unlikely. Either way, Rattler should get another start before the year is out. Whether it’s in Green Bay Monday night against the Packers or to close the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the rookie deserves a chance to show what he can do with a fully healthy offensive line and a full practice week. While one source with knowledge of the situation tells LouisianaSports.net that the young passer did receive reps along with last week’s starter Jake Haener throughout the practice week, another clarifies that those reps were not with the first team.
The Saints can now get a look at Rattler with the first team throughout the week, on the field behind their starting offensive line and continue his evaluation following the momentum he built last week against the Washington Commanders.
LT Taliese Fuaga
The Saints struck gold in the first round of this year’s draft. The rookie starting left tackle, who had played right tackle his entire collegiate career, has been stellar. He’s finished five games this year without allowing a single pressure with three coming in the last four contests. He continues to get better and better and is now teetering on future Pro Bowler status at minimum. With the Packers, Las Vegas Raiders and Buccaneers on the way, Fuaga could continue to impress to close out the season.
RB Kendre Miller
Since his return to the field against the New York Giants, the 2023 draft pick has been a lot of fun to watch. He is averaging 4.6 yards per carry this season, 5.1 last week against the Commanders. Starting running back Alvin Kamara is currently dealing with a groin adductor injury and could be at least limited against the Packers next week. A cold weather game on the road needs a run game for the traveling team. Miller will be vital to the success of that area against a formidable opponent. The Packers are currently the No. 9 team against the run. If Miller can find success for a third consecutive week, it would speak a lot to what he can provide this team going into 2025.
CB Alontae Taylor
Since moving to the outside, Taylor’s numbers have not been as strong as he would like from a reception and receiving yards standpoint. However, some of those numbers are skewed because being the “closest defender” is not the same as being the “primary defender.” One way for Taylor to curb the reputation that misunderstanding is painting of him is to make some big plays on the outside. New Orleans has not been the takeaway factory that they have become known to be in recent years. Look for Taylor to try to change that, thereby showing the Saints that he indeed can be their “CB1” for the future.
Rookie corner Kool-Aid McKinstry will be looking to prove himself as well. The Saints have a valuable opportunity to further evaluate the top of their cornerback room.
DT Bryan Bresee
The second-year defensive tackle has been having a breakout season. With 7.5 sacks already to his name along with a game-sealing blocked field goal, the Saints may already know what they need to know about their interior playmaker. However, there’s still time to prove more. Bresee’s continued development in the run game will specifically be under the microscope for the rest of the season, but his abilities as a pass rush have a real chance to continue to flourish over the final three games.
