WR Jarvis Landry, keep or go?
The New Orleans Saints receiving corps wants some reinforcements. Whereas followers noticed loads to love out of youngers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed in 2022, the gamers underneath contract for 2023 embody backups like Tre’Quan Smith, Kirk Merritt, and Kawaan Baker — plus injured starter Michael Thomas, whose standing is lower than sure.
It’s sort of arrange for a superb scenario for Jarvis Landry to return to. He already is aware of the Saints’ playbook, he stays common with followers and teammates, and if Olave and Shaheed are your starters it is smart to carry onto a veteran presence on the place who can nonetheless train them a factor or two.
Then again, Landry is coming off the worst 12 months of his profession and he could wish to attempt his hand someplace else across the league. Let’s evaluation his 2022 marketing campaign with the Saints and resolve whether or not he ought to re-sign:
Season stats
Landry set new career-lows in targets (39), receptions (25), receiving yards (272), landing catches (1) and first down conversions (12) in 2022, although quite a lot of that may be chalked as much as an early-year ankle damage limiting him to simply 9 video games on the season. That damage saved him out and in of the lineup as quite a lot of issues modified round him, together with a transfer at quarterback. Landry seemed like a stellar match with Jameis Winston in Week 1 (totaling 7 receptions for 114 yards) however he by no means bought into rhythm with Andy Dalton the best way Olave and Shaheed managed to.
Snap counts
Landry performed 301 snaps on offense for the Saints final season, with 90 of them coming within the first two weeks. That lingering ankle damage saved him out and in of the lineup all 12 months lengthy. After getting on the sector for 72% and 68% of the crew’s snaps in these preliminary two video games, he solely noticed greater than 63% of snaps in two of the seven video games left on the schedule. He was relegated to extra of a bit half within the offense whereas struggling together with his well being.
2022 season evaluation
There’s no approach to take a look at Landry’s return to New Orleans than as a disappointment. Even his highlights from the season-opener in 2022 set a excessive bar that he wasn’t in a position to meet because the 12 months wore on. However how a lot of that’s on Landry?
No place is extra reliant on forces outdoors its management than vast receiver. You’ve bought to cope with the quarterback throwing you the ball and the play caller placing you able to win. These had been main issues for the Saints final 12 months, and for Landry particularly. It’s unlucky.
Future worth to Saints
Once more, if the Saints are going to ask Olave and Shaheed to start out at receiver then they in all probability want a veteran within the receiving corps for them to lean on; Tre’Quan Smith is presently the one participant signed for 2023 who actually suits that description, and he’s far much less a confirmed commodity than even Landry at this level in his profession. It could make sense for the Saints to convey Landry again for one more 12 months so he can proceed to assist teaching up these younger playmakers, however his days as an impactful starter is perhaps behind him.
Keep or go?
Landry’s free agent market will in all probability be quieter this 12 months than it was final summer time, when he needed to accept a modest one-year contract with New Orleans. He’s one other 12 months older and he has continued to say no. If the worth is correct (and it needs to be), bringing him again is smart for the Saints.
However will Landry wish to return for one more run of their rebuild? Or would he be extra receptive to becoming a member of a playoff contender in hopes of profitable a championship earlier than hanging up his cleats? The Saints ought to completely discover one other run with Landry, nevertheless it shouldn’t shock anybody if he has greater ambitions.
Ballot: Vote on Twitter!