2. Both teams have had busy offseasons, including N.O.’s addition of a former Eagle.
Since their Wild Card exits in this past season, both the Eagles and Saints have made moves to ensure they’ll contend again in 2020. Both teams addressed several areas of need and added some all-star talent on both sides of the ball during free agency and in the draft.
On defense, the “Birds” added some much-needed talent on defense. They signed defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to help form a dynamic duo with Fletcher Cox on the interior. They traded for cornerback Darius Slay to give them a legitimate shutdown corner. They brought in speedy linebackers with the signing of Jatavis Brown and the selection of both Davion Taylor and Shaun Bradley. They even mixed up things at safety by re-signing Rodney McLeod and Jalen Mills (who may be converted to play in the backend of the defenses), adding Will Parks, and drafting K’Von Wallace.
It’s safe to say the Eagles are prioritizing speed on defense and want to give Jim Schwartz plenty of options to keep offensive coordinators guessing. The Saints were thinking the same way and tried to put defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in a position to succeed.
The saints also stepped things up and added a little fuel to this fire with their acquisition of former Eagle and team captain Malcolm Jenkins. Johnson Bademosi was re-signed as was defensive lineman Noah Spence, hard-hitting safety D.J. Swearinger, and cornerbacks P.J. Williams and Janoris Jenkins, and defensive lineman David Onyemata. In the draft, the Saints also brought in talented linebacker Zack Baun. He figures to contribute early.