Your defense stinks. I get it. There are so many reasons why the your defense cost you playoff spots these last few years. I understand your frustration. From a fans perspective, the Saints have not made enough off-season moves during this era of mediocrity and defensive ineptitude. The moves they have made have been trivial and ineffective to put it mildly. So when you talk about potentially landing a two time Super Bowl champion Cornerback in the prime of his career, I get your excitement and your eagerness to see a deal get done. From the Saints front office perspective though, I do not see how this potential Malcolm Butler deal gets done without seriously handicapping yourself for the future.
We all know the situation right now; wait and see if the Saints and Butler can agree to a long term deal so the Saints can then turn around and figure out a trade with the New England Patriots. Easier said than done, marks. Ok yeah, Butler gets a long term deal with a team who doesn’t believe the “system corner” stigma many are pinning on him. Good for him. But what do the Saints expect New England to ask for when Butler signs his tender? A bag of beignets and a Bill Belichick float at next year’s Mardi Gras? Acquiring Malcolm Butler without Brandin Cooks involved in the deal is going to cost the Saints more than they should be willing to pay.
Sure the 11th pick might be safe, but that 32nd pick the Saints just got for Cooks is precious even if it is the last pick of the first round. We are talking about a historic defensive draft! If the Saints swing that 32nd pick back to the Patriots, you just acquired Butler and a 3rd for Cooks and a 4th. Not bad considering you need defense and Wide Receivers who play with Drew Brees are a dime a dozen, but oh what could have been!
I don’t know about Loomis and Payton anymore. The love Payton has for Belichick is troublesome. The risky business Loomis practices is wearing thin even on a non-Saints fan. Last week I warned these two not to deal with New England and now they are ready, willing, and able to do a second deal. PJ Williams injuries and the uncertainty of the draft have the Saints pressing right now. They cannot afford another bad defense and another mediocre non-playoff season. They need to make the moves to win right now. I am pretty sure this is not the way to do it though. If the Saints make another deal with New England, it will be the final major mistake this regime makes. Do not be surprised when the Saints fall into the abyss and all of a sudden you find yourself watching Sean Payton working on the Patriots sideline one Sunday afternoon in the near future.