2017 NFL Power Rankings Preseason Week 2: Los Angeles Rams take major step forward

21. New Orleans Saints (23)

Even if it’s preseason, losing to the Cleveland Browns is never easy to accept, and based off their first game, the New Orleans Saints clearly still need help on the defensive side of the football. A high-powered offense led by Drew Brees can only take the Saints so far unless the defense figures out a way to step up and come through to help make this squad contenders.

Give New Orleans credit for focusing on the defensive side of the football in this year’s NFL Draft after using two early picks on cornerback Marshon Lattimore and safety Marcus Williams, as the rookies hope to have immediate impacts during their first year. Unfortunately, Lattimore has been bothered by a knee injury as of late, but Williams has looked like a stud throughout training camp, showing he’s ready to do whatever it takes to help the defense.

The last few months have been quite interesting for the Saints between Brandin Cooks being sent to the New England Patriots along with Adrian Peterson coming on board following his release from the Minnesota Vikings. Brees will always have this offense ranked near the top of the league, but it’s going to be the defense that determines how far New Orleans will go in 2017.