ESPN's early 2024 power rankings don't buy what the Saints are selling

New Orleans Saints new head coach Dennis Allen speaks as general manager Mickey Loomis reacts during a news conference at the NFL football team’s training facility, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in Metairie, La. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle)

ESPN’s early 2024 power rankings don’t buy what the New Orleans Saints are selling. To hear general manager Mickey Loomis tell it, the Saints are so close to the playoffs that fans should go ahead and reserve their tickets — but neutral observers taking stock of the entire league think the Saints are closer to being one of the NFL’s worst teams than a title contender.

New Orleans starts out deep in the bottom half of the league; ESPN ranked them at No. 22 out of the 32 teams, clocking in at No. 11 among the 16 NFC squads (and, remember, only 7 of those NFC teams make the playoffs). Here’s what ESPN’s NFL Nation reporter Katherine Terrell had to say about the Saints’ outlook, defining their offseason in three words as “Maintaining status quo.”

The Saints parted ways with longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael with plans to hire Klint Kubiak and will have several new assistants on the offensive side. For now, the Saints don’t appear to have any major player changes on the horizon. GM Mickey Loomis still feels the window is open for this team to be successful, which could mean another year where they attempt to keep the roster together in hopes of making it to the playoffs, with a few exceptions.

There may be big changes on the coaching staff, but the Saints’ roster is largely set for 2024. Derek Carr will start quarterback. Alvin Kamara is returning at running back. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed will continue to play large roles at wide receiver. At least three and probably four, if not all five, starters are returning along the offensive line. There are little to no changes coming for the defensive depth chart. Michael Thomas and Jameis Winston are likely on their way out. Unless Marshon Lattimore is traded, it’s realistic to expect 20 of their 22 starters to return next season.

This is the bed the Saints made for themselves; now they have to lay in it. Loomis restructured so many veteran contracts and botched so many draft picks to where they’re left with few alternatives. New Orleans is betting everything on more experience and a new offensive coaching staff yielding better results in 2024. It’s a big gamble, but if they’re right, they could be in the mix next January. That just isn’t a wager many people outside the team facility are taking them up on.

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This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: ESPN’s early 2024 power rankings don’t buy what the Saints are selling