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NFL: How all of the championship contenders were built

By Sayre Bedinger

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 13: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots and Rob Gronkowski #87 react during the third quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 13: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots and Rob Gronkowski #87 react during the third quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints reacts after a receiver dropped a pass during the NFC Divisional Playoff at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints reacts after a receiver dropped a pass during the NFC Divisional Playoff at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints

Head coach: Sean Payton (2006)
General manager: Mickey Loomis (2002)

25 and under: 26
FA: 19
Trade: 3
NFL Draft: 21
CFA: 10
Active cap: $141.66M (4th highest among final four)
Players on IR: 9

The New Orleans Saints’ origin story really starts with Mickey Loomis’ decision to hire Sean Payton and sign Drew Brees in 2006.

Brees was a rare superstar quarterback to hit the free agent market and the Saints courted him along with Payton which has completely altered the course of this franchise.

In Payton’s 12 years with the team, the Saints have made the playoffs seven times and have never lost more than nine games in a single season. They won the Super Bowl in 2009 over the Indianapolis Colts but have been a one-and-done team in the postseason every appearance since then.

As far as roster construction, the Saints are built around Brees and it’s possible he’s never had a more talented group around him at the offensive skill positions.

The Saints’ 2017 NFL Draft class which featured Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, Marcus Williams, Alex Anzalone, and Alvin Kamara has provided this team a major jolt and given them some of the NFL’s best stars under the age of 25.

The 2016 NFL Draft was also very kind to the Saints, providing them with Sheldon Rankins on the defensive line and Michael Thomas at wide receiver. Thomas has quickly developed into perhaps the best receiver in the NFL. He’s at least in the discussion.

The Saints’ roster construction is so interesting, because they have one of the top 10 highest payrolls in the NFL ($141.66 million) but that figure is also the lowest among the remaining teams in the postseason. It’s also interesting because the Saints have the seventh highest average age of players in the NFL (one of only eight teams with an average age over 26) but they also have 26 players under the age of 26.

The Saints have used trades the least of any team remaining in the postseason (3) but they have the most free agent acquisitions (19) and college free agents (10) on their roster.

This team does a good job of identifying talent all over the place and putting players in their system who can succeed around Brees.

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