Cameron Meredith could be a steal for the Saints
Drew Brees has a fancy new target that could deliver a 1,000-yard season, though he’s in disguise as a cheap depth piece coming off major injury.
The Saints managed to add former Chicago Bears wideout Cameron Meredith, a former number one receiver, to an already deep receiving corps led by up and coming star Michael Thomas.
Back in 2016, his final full season in the Windy City, Meredith compiled 888 yards on 66 receptions (13.5 YPR) as the team’s top option. He did so in 14 games, only 10 of which he started.
However, he destroyed his left knee last August, tearing his ACL, MCL and meniscus before he could make it to the regular season. As a result, Chicago elected to let the receiver find greener pastures elsewhere, and New Orleans is a perfect landing spot.
Thomas is the clear top dog in the offense, and Ted Ginn Jr. has the second receiver role for the moment. However, Meredith can play out wide and in the slot, where he split his time relatively evenly with the Bears, and will have a path to consistent playing time as a result.
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Once Meredith regains his health, and he appears to be well on his way, the slot gig should be his to lose. If he shows bursts of his 2016 self, he could realistically find himself within reach of Ginn Jr.’s job aside Michael Thomas.
After all, his impressive 888 yards through only 10 starts in 14 games two years ago would have easily eclipsed 1,000 yards, and maybe even more had he been given the chance to start earlier.
Making his numbers from that season even more staggering, the quarterbacks he caught all of his passes from one of a dismal trio of quarterbacks in Jay Cutler, Matt Barkley and Brian Hoyer. In his new home, Meredith will be catching passes from one of the greatest to play the game in Drew Brees. At only 25 years old, his ceiling is certainly north of 1,000 yards if he’s healthy by Week 1.
With Meredith, the Saints have three capable wideouts to compliment a growing defense, one of the league’s best quarterbacks in Brees and arguably the best backfield tandem in Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, who’s suspended for the start of the season.
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After finishing just one tackle away from a date with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship, this team is primed for an even deeper run with the added pieces, including a potentially dangerous weapon in Meredith. The Vikings and the Eagles are all that stand in their way en route to some February football.