At long last the NFL’s final head coach vacancy has been filled. The New Orleans Saints hiring former Eagles Offensive Coordinator and Super Bowl 59 champion Kellen Moore. Moore comes to the Saints as the youngest head coach in NFL history at just 36 years old. After becoming the winningest quarterback in college football history Moore had a short stint as a player in the NFL from 2012 to 2017. He then joined the NFL coaching ranks working as the offensive coordinator for the Cowboys, Chargers, and Eagles.
Kellen Moore Overview
In New Orleans, Moore inherits the challenging task of rebuilding a team. A team that is projected to be $51 million over the salary cap. With several key players, particularly on defense, past their prime, Moore will have to navigate a tricky salary situation and a roster in need of rejuvenation. Longtime stalwarts for the Saints, Cameron Jordan, Tyrann Mathieu, and Demario Davis all look to be potential cap casualties. To complicate matters, the Saints will also need to build a new coaching staff. Several members were poached by other teams during the head coach search. With all these factors in play, Moore will face an uphill battle in a long-term rebuild, especially as a first-time head coach.
Passing Attack
Kellen Moore has enjoyed success with his passing attacks throughout his coaching career. In his six seasons as an NFL offensive coordinator, he has seen 10 players finish in the top 11 PPR rankings at quarterback, wide receiver, or tight end. In New Orleans, he hopes to replicate that success. First, he must address the most pressing question: Who will be the starting quarterback? Will Moore stick with 34-year-old Derek Carr? Will he give promising second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler the starting job? Or will he look to address the position in the upcoming draft?
Whoever ends up as the starting quarterback will have talented weapons to work with. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed will return from injury and both are sure to outperform their season totals(WR94 and WR92 respectfully) with Moore calling plays, but the tight end position remains uncertain. 34-year-old Taysom Hill is coming off a significant knee injury, and starter Juwan Johnson is set to become a free agent. Moore will need to make key decisions in building a strong, efficient passing attack in his first season at the helm.
Running Attack
The Saints’ rushing attack is led by Alvin Kamara, who remains one of the most dynamic running backs in the league, finishing the 2024 season as the RB9, should see an improvement with Moore calling the plays for the Saints as Moore has had a top 10 RB in 5 of his 6 years as an OC. However, Kamara will turn 30 before the 2025 season begins, which raises questions about his longevity. The backups, Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller have not shown they can carry the load in the event of an injury to Kamara.
Moore has historically prioritized running back success in his offenses, having a top-10 RB in all but one season as an offensive coordinator so Kamara should be in line for a similar finish if not better than his RB9 spot last season. Given Kamara’s age and the lack of proven depth behind him, Moore will undoubtedly prioritize finding a capable backup or potential long-term replacement.
Reason for doubt
The New Orleans Saints head coaching job was seen by many as one of the most undesirable openings in this year’s cycle. The team sitting at $51 million over the salary cap. It has a roster full of aging veterans, and the need to hire an entirely new coaching staff. The path to success appears daunting. The outlook for the 2025 season is grim. Many wonder whether Moore can overcome these challenges and find success in a short time frame. How patient will Saints leadership be as Moore works through the difficult rebuilding process? With a new head coach and major roster changes on the horizon, immediate success is unlikely. The team will need to commit to a long-term strategy to get back to contention.
Reason for Hope
Despite the challenges, there is hope in New Orleans. For the first time since 2006, the Saints have hired a head coach who is not affiliated with the Sean Payton era. Kellen Moore brings a fresh approach to a team in need of change. His strength lies in his adaptability and “adjustment football,” a philosophy that prioritizes flexibility and innovation. In Super Bowl 59, Moore demonstrated his ability to adjust. that led to the Philadelphia Eagles to victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a pass-heavy attack rather than relying solely on their elite rushing game led by Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts. Moore is a firm believer in finding the “superpowers” within each player. As he said during Super Bowl media availability, his job is to uncover the unique strengths of his players and put the best product on the field every week.
QB future in flux
Current wide receivers can potentially replicate Eagles wide receivers
Alvin Kamara is great but aging with no good backups
$51 million over salary cap
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