The New Orleans Saints have been reeling a bit since Jimmy Graham left, and quarterback Drew Brees has had to find a lot of new targets. One of their old targets, Marques Colston, was released today in an effort to free up some cap space. The Saints will now have an extra $3.2 million added to their cap room.
Colston was a seventh round pick in 2006 and was Drew Brees' primary target for most of the time he was on the Saints' roster. Colston was declining and the Saints could no longer afford to carry his contract. The Saints were not in a great place in terms of salary cap space, however releasing Colston means giving up a big piece of the Saints' identity. Colston accounted for 9,759 yards, 711 receptions, 13.7 yards per catch and 72 touchdowns in his career with the Saints. The Saints have several relatively new players in their passing game that are currently seeing some production in their offensive system.
Willie Snead has only spent one season with the Saints but has earned eight starts, 69 receptions, 984 yards, 14.3 yards per reception and three touchdowns in 2015. Brandon Cooks is a bit more familiar of a name as he was taken two seasons ago and recorded 12 starts, 84 receptions, 1,138 yards, 13.5 yards per reception and nine touchdowns in 2015. It has become apparent that Cooks represents that Saints' future as the number one wide receiver in their offense. The last wide receiver there is to talk about is Brandon Coleman. Coleman is 6-foot-6 and only 23 years old. He had four starts in 2015 and recorded 30 receptions, 454 yards, 15.1 yards per reception during the 2015 season.
The future does look bright with their wide receivers, but the Saints have still not found a starting tight end that can fit that mold as Graham did. The Saints' tight ends Benjamin Watson and Josh Hill could not be more different. Hill is only 25 and is 6-5 and spent his last three seasons with the Saints. Hill has 36 receptions, 340 yards, 9.4 yards per receptions and eight touchdowns throughout his career with the team. Watson on the other hand, has 13 seasons in the NFL, and is a 35-year-old veteran. Watson is only 6-3 but he recorded 16 starts, 74 receptions, 825 yards, 11.1 yards per reception and six touchdowns during the 2015 season. Watson looked like the Saints answer to Jimmy Graham last season but is far too continue to put up those kinds of numbers. Look out for the Saints to draft another offensive weapon come the 2016 NFL Draft.
