best player on the board
 

I think we can help ourselves. I think the approach that we'll take has been the same approach — when the draft comes, you're always looking to try to take the best player on the board," Payton said. "In free agency, you're trying to identify some needs that you feel like you need to fill to immediately help your team."

The Best Player on the board, this is one quote I don't like.

Re: best player on the board
 

That's always the best approach. It'll be fine... I'm sure at 10 the BPA will be a defensive player or an offensive tackle. We couldn't be that stupid in selecting a quarterback or running back. In a deep class of receivers, it shouldn't be a WR either.

Re: best player on the board
 

The Saints need to forget that. Yes, the BPA has worked out in the past, even last years 1st rounder which at the time was a luxury pick, quickly turned into a need for 2008. Even if a guy like McFadden or Matt Ryan falls, the Saints MUST resist temptation and build that defense. It really doesn't matter what position on defense they draft at 10, it just needs to be on defense.

Re: best player on the board
 

I see no problem taking a WR in the draft. Our WR corp is not that deep. Henderson is history, Patten is long in the tooth and best suited for a rotation. The problem is there is no one to rotate with. Mech is our only hope right now and well I have to wait and see this kid play. He got the knee worked on and got a year of rehab. So he should be good to go. I find it hard to believe that skills were the reason he was not on the field. I am sticking with the knee. I hope if we do draft a WR it is in the Wes Welker mold.
as for the bpa I say if it is an upgrade go for it. At 10 it will be fun to see how the combine effects the draft.

Re: best player on the board
 

All this predraft stuff is giving me a headache. I am fine with taking a WR in rounds 3-7. I agree with Hagan about our current WR situation, we DO need some help in that area. However, the first two need to be defensive studs, LB or DT or BOTH. I hate the "dead time" in the NFL.

Re: best player on the board
 

I dont see a problem with us taking Clady at 10 if hes the best player on the board. Everyone realizes we need to concentrate on the defensive side of the ball, but if we ignore the offense, everyone will catch up. Staying still is not the way to get ahead. If Clady is the best player available on our board at 10 and we cant trade back, I say take him.

Re: best player on the board
 

How far of a stretch would the team take to draft a position of need as opposed to best player available? If you want a defensive pick and they dont have anyone on defense in the next 10-12 spots on their board would they still make the pick. Would it make the fans happy if the Saints admitted after the draft they picked a player at #10 that they had ranked at #20 because he was the highest defensive player left.

Re: best player on the board
 

Sitting at 10 this year there appears to be a defensive player there for us. CB and LB in the mix, as is WR and OT. There will be at least one player that will mess up the top 10 after the combine. I am waiting to see who that is. Who is the next Mario Williams? Right now the #1 CB and #2 LB seem to be there and the #1 WR and #2 OT. The only problem is the top CB seem to be all small school players. that makes a mess of guessing the BPA at ten.

Re: best player on the board
 

It's not a stretch if the player comes in and solidifies the defense. Richard Seymour got picked sixth overall for the Pats and people bashed them up and down for it, as he was considered to be worth a pick in the low 20s and no one had him at the top of their boards... and yet he turned into the best DE of that class and an anchor on their D. If it fixes the defense I don't care who they end up picking, but if it's an offensive linemen or God forbid, a skill position player, I'm going to jail for shooting up Airline Highway.

Re: best player on the board
 

1-800-CRIMESTOPPERS

I'm going to be keeping an eye on you Narwal! ^_^