Projected mock picks for the New Orleans Saints
 

The Saints will select Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan with their first-round pick (No. 24 overall) in SportingNews.com's latest mock draft. Kerrigan would help fill a need as the Saints could use a pass rusher.

Several other teams are after this guy as well.

The Saints will select OLB Justin Houston of Georgia.
 

The Saints will select Georgia OLB Justin Houston with their first-round pick (No. 24 overall) in the latest mock drafts at Yahoo.com and SI.com.

Saints may actually pull it off if they take him early.

Saints will take DE Cameron Heyward of Ohio State
 

NFL.com's Pat Kirwan tweeted and tabbed Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward as the Saints' first-round pick.

:jester:

Defense will be Key in Saints Draft Lineup, Analyst shows saints taking a DE "Adrian Clayborn of Iowa.
 

Defense continues to be the theme for the Saints' first-round pick in the Professional NFL Analyst latest mock drafts. Rob Rang of CBS Sports has the Saints selecting Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn at No. 24 overall

I like what I see in this guy he can cover he can come off the end and pass rush but I didn't see him stop the run can he stop the run is he a good tackler.

I think if we go defense the entire draft we're going to get some good players no matter who they go with

I like Kerigan, but not much else.

Actually I just did some research on Clayborn, and he looks like a solid LDE prospect.

He looks like he may be what Charles Grant was supposed to be.

^
This:bng:

what u guys think of heyward ohio state?

I'm sorry guys, but I have a feeling in my gut, that we are going to take a RB with the first pick. And I have no problems with that, considering if we had a healthy RB last season, that could move the chains, the defense isn't on the field so long, therefore they aren't exhausted by the third quarter.

OK I guess, but he disappears a lot in games. Two or three good games in a lame conference just doesn't get me hyped.

I have a feeling he's an early 2nd rounder.

You should watch some college ball before chiming in. The Who Dats have done quite well by Ohio State.

As long as our pick is d-line or OLB I will be content.

Easy there, Seer1. Let's not assume around here - you know where that leads.

1st pick Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan. 2nd round RB Connecticut Jordan Todman

Yea he was wrong. Heyward only shows up for one game a year. It's amazing how one game got him hyped up to be a mid first round grade on projected mocks. Now when they're mentioned the top 5 DE's that are going to be taken in the first, he's on the outside looking in.

http://walterfootball.com/images/fball/saintsb_logo.gif New Orleans Saints: Brooks Reed, 6-3/263 DE/LB, Arizonahttp://walterfootball.com/college/Arizona_logo.gif


The Saints don't have many holes on their roster, but they could certainly use some upgrades on their defensive front. I think they'll take the best pass-rusher available.

New Orleans had its sights set on Jerry Hughes last year, but the Colts chose him before the Saints had the opportunity. Brooks Reed is a similar type prospect; he can rush the passer effectively and drop into coverage.

I really think Reed could be drafted in the 16-27 range. Reed had a great Combine; he ran the fastest 10-yard split of all the defensive linemen. In fact, his 10-yard split was only 0.05 seconds slower than Clay Matthews' - and we've all seen how explosive Matthews has been in Green Bay's defense.


Strengths:

Relentless in pursuit
Lower and upper body strength
Speed with a burst
Reliable tackler
Proven pass rusher with a few moves
Smart with high football IQ
Good character with leadership qualities
Experienced 3-year starter
Factor on special teams

Weaknesses:

Does not excel against the run
Struggles changing directions
Needs to do a better job getting off blocks
Might be a positional 'tweener

Summary: Brooks Reed has watched his stock rise during the draft process, mostly due to a strong showing at the Combine which lessened concerns he was stuck between being a 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker. I still question if he would work at end, but he is a hard-working prospect. NFL teams often are drawn to guys like him who have a strong motor and high effort level. They are also very interested in anyone who can wreak havoc on the opposing quarterback, which Reed has proven he can do.


Player Comparison: Anthony Spencer. I like this better than the comparison of Clay Matthews, whom Reed could probably be a stunt double for. Spencer was another 'tweener coming out of Purdue with similar triangle numbers, and questions about his ability to change directions and shed blockers. Both players saw their stock shoot way up in their final season although Spencer was more productive in his last year at Purdue.

Anthony Spencer or Clay Matthews... regardless I like both of the players he's being compared to. I really wanted Spencer the year he came out... and who knew Matthews was going to turn into this kind of monster.

Damn Kerrigan looks good in black and gold!!! I will be fired up if Kerrigan is the pick.

What a defensive line....

Kerrigan
Will Smith
Ellis
Rogers

Then we can really focus on LB's in the 2nd and 3rd.

Great Blue North Draft Report

Interesting take. Projecting us trying to trade back. Has the Saints taking:

Marvin Austin, DT, UNC
Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
Mason Foster, LB, Washington
DeAndre McDaniel, FS, Clemson

Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State in the 1st
Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois, in the 2nd

Draft Countdown - 2011 NFL Mock Draft

Not the biggest fan of the 7 round mock draft, but here one is anyway:

WalterFootball.com: 2011 NFL Mock Draft: First Round Continued

1. DaQuan Bowers, DE, Clemson
2. Quan Sturdivant, LB, North Carolina
3. Jarvis Jenkins, DT, Clemson
3. Mason Foster, LB, Washington