3 Players Who Need Rebound Seasons for Saints to Get Back to Super Bowl

With Drew Brees at the helm and Offensive Player of the Year Michael Thomas breaking records at wide receiver, the 2019 New Orleans Saints looked almost unstoppable until they laid an egg against Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs. Even without the likes of Teddy Bridgewater back in the fold, New Orleans has as good a chance as anyone of taking home the NFC crown this year, as long as these three players bounce back from poor 2019 seasons.

3. DE Marcus Davenport

The Saints traded two first-round picks to the Green Bay Packers in order to move up and select Davenport in the 2018 draft, but the improvement from Year 1 to Year 2 is not what Dennis Allen and Sean Payton were hoping to see. Davenport recorded six sacks and 31 tackles, a minor improvement from his 4.5 sacks as a rookie. For New Orleans to take that next step defensively, Davenport will have to emerge as an elite rusher on the other side of Cameron Jordan.

2. WR Tre'Quan Smith

The former UCF star looked poised to become one of the league's next great deep threats after a promising rookie season, but he totally fell off the map in 2019. Smith recorded just 234 yards receiving on only 18 catches. While Emmanuel Sanders has the No. 2 wide receiver role locked down, Smith will be the No. 3 target in an offense that likes to sling it around, so a bounce-back year is a necessity if he wants to stick around.

1. RB Alvin Kamara

Kamara might have made a Pro Bowl, but that doesn't mask the fact that 2019 was a major struggle for the former Tennessee star. Kamara went almost three whole months without scoring a touchdown. Furthermore, his 797 rushing yards were a slight decline from 2018, while his 6.6 yards per catch as a receiver was the lowest mark of his career. Kamara was solid, but solid isn't going to get the Saints over the hump. He needs to be transcendent in 2020.