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3 Difficult Roster Decisions the Saints Face This Offseason

By Scott Rogust

After another disappointing playoff exit, the Saints have questions that need answering in 2020.
After another disappointing playoff exit, the Saints have questions that need answering in 2020. / Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Another year, another heartbreaking and gut-wrenching playoff exit for the New Orleans Saints. Emerging as the biggest threat to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC, the Saints dropped the ball big time, losing to the sixth-seeded Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round. Now, they face huge decisions ahead of the new calendar year. Here are three that stick out.

3. Can the Saints Convince Kiko Alonso to Take a Pay Cut?

The Saints acquired Kiko Alonso to bolster their LB corps, but his season ended on a torn ACL.
The Saints acquired Kiko Alonso to bolster their LB corps, but his season ended on a torn ACL. / Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

The Saints, noticing their championship window closing (and the Miami Dolphins' tank commencing), acquired linebacker Kiko Alonso to bolster their defense. Alonso played in 13 games, and tallied a total of 20 tackles. The linebacker's season ended the same time as New Orleans' but it was due to suffering a torn ACL against the Vikings, the third time he's done so dating back to college. Now, the Saints have to convince Alonso to take a pay cut. If not, they'd likely release him.

2. Is Janoris Jenkins a Cap Casualty?

Janoris Jenkins could be a cap casualty in 2020.
Janoris Jenkins could be a cap casualty in 2020. / Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Janoris Jenkins spent the majority of the 2019 season with the New York Giants, but a tweet in poor taste and a lack of empathy from Jenkins caused him to be placed on the waiver wire. The Saints took advantage of adding Jenkins to replace another former Giants cornerback on the roster in Eli Apple. Jenkins did pay dividends in the Wild Card Game, as he forced a fumble on the Vikings' opening drive. However, the cap-strapped Saints will have to find a way to squeeze his $10 million-plus salary onto the books. Would Jenkins restructure his contract? Or will he demand out of New Orleans after an extremely short stint?

1. Do the Saints Keep Teddy Bridgewater?

Teddy Bridgewater has been pegged as Drew Brees' replacement, but will he stay?
Teddy Bridgewater has been pegged as Drew Brees' replacement, but will he stay? / Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Saints acquired Teddy Bridgewater as a potential succession plan for veteran Drew Brees. Bridgewater performed up to par once Brees suffered a broken finger earlier this season, going a perfect 5-0 as a starter. Now, with uncertainty surrounding Brees, can New Orleans find a way to convince Bridgewater to stay? The only problem is, Bridgewater is the best quarterback available in free agency, and will no doubt receive enticing offers in the new league year. New Orleans need to figure things out, and quickly, before they end up without a quarterback at all in 2020.