The New Orleans Saints would like to think the NFC South is theirs to take in 2023, and they'll have one "huge" advantage as they aim to get back to the playoff for the first time in three seasons.
That advantage? An established quarterback, as former NFL QB Jake Delhomme explained this week on SportsTalk.
“I think it’s a huge advantage," Delhomme said. "Listen, I was a big believer in this Saints roster last year and I just believe they had some injury issues. I just thought they had a really good roster and I still think the job that Mickey has done is pretty remarkable."
Listen to the full interview with Jake Delhomme in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
It's between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke for the Falcons, and between Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield for the Bucs. The Panthers know exactly who they want their quarterback to be in No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, but there's a major adjustment to the speed of the NFL he'll have to overcome before expectations can be set high.
"The Saints have the upper hand right now with the roster and certainly the veteran quarterback, it’s just can they stay healthy," Delhomme said. "And I’m hopeful Carolina with this new staff, with some of these new players and certainly Bryce Young. We all know it. … The quarterback makes all the difference in the NFL. I think we see that.”
That leaves the Saints with Derek Carr as the one with a clear advantage, and Delhomme expects New Orleans to take advantage of it. That'll be easier to do with a healthy Michael Thomas, but Delhomme also sees Chris Olave as a star in the making as he enters Year 2.
"I just think [Olave] is a master route runner, it’s like he’s just floating on air when he runs, when I watched film of him last year," Delhomme said. "You just add him along with Michael Thomas, that’s very dangerous for the Saints, and that’s going to make Derek Carr feel pretty darn good."
