Prediction Thread: Round 1, Pick 24.
 

So who will the Saints select for their first round draft choice with the 24th overall pick? Last season, they surprised some people by choosing Patrick Robinson. This time around, the Saints are quite a bit higher in the first round than last time (due to their lackluster playoff performance). There is a multitude of great defensive players available in the first round and I definitely believe the Saints will take one of many strong defensive ends, defensive tackles or linebackers who should still be around when pick 24 rolls around.

Here is a list of possibilities that the Saints could explore:

Adrian Clayborn - DL - Iowa
Akeem Ayers - LB - UCLA
Muhammad Wilkerson - DT - Temple
Mark Ingram - RB - Alabama
Corey Liuget - DT - Illinois
Cam Heyward - DT - Ohio St.
Justin Houston - LB - Georgia
Aldon Smith - DE - Missouri
Phil Taylor - DL - Baylor
Jimmy Smith - CB - Colorado
Marvin Austin - DL - North Carolina

Other possibilities who probably won't be available are:

Ryan Kerrigan - LB/DE - Purdue, Da'Quan Bowers - DE - Clemson, Nick Fairley - DT - Auburn, J.J. Watt - DE - Wisconsin, Cam Jordan - DE - California.

Granted, I think if any players out of this group are available, they will be snapped up by the Saints, but I strongly feel that none of them will be. I also think Aldon Smith will be gone by the time the Saints get to choose.

Of the remaining possibilities, Mark Ingram is an intriguing choice. But I believe that either the Patriots or the Colts will have taken him before we have a shot. Phil Taylor and Marvin Austin are a bit lower on most of the mock drafts of the so-called "experts." Also Marvin Austin missed his entire senior year due to rules infractions. Supposedly, Jimmy Smith has off-field issues and I don't believe that the Saints will pick a defensive back in the first round for the third straight year.

Corey Liuget will likely be unavailable to the Saints, but you never know. That leaves Adrian Clayborn, Akeem Ayers, Muhammad Wilkerson, Justin Houston, and Cameron Heyward. These are all excellent choices, but I hope that the Saints will take Cameron Heyward as the 24th overall draft choice. I recognize that many experts have him a bit farther down the board than 24th, but Cameron Heyward offers the Saints several things: he is versatile, having played in both a 4-3 and 3-4 defensive scheme, he is big and strong (6'5", 294 pounds), and he is a solid pass rusher having accumulated a total of 162 tackles, 1 interception, and 15 sacks in his college career.

Now having said all this about Cam Heyward, he didn't have a pre-draft visit with the Saints - and yet Muhammad Wilkerson, Mark Ingram, and Phil Taylor all did. Then again I do not believe Patrick Robinson had a pre-draft visit with the Saints last year, so maybe this is irrelevant.

In any case I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Cam Heyward is the guy. If it's not him then, I'll predict Muhammad Wilkerson, Mark Ingram, Adrian Clayborn, or Justin Houston, in that order.

I would like to see a trade down if a team is looking to sneak back into the first round to grab a QB. If Justin Houston is still available, then he would be a good selection early in the 2nd round as a situational pass rusher early in his career while developing into an every down LB.

my guess Corey Liuget - DT - Illinois

Now that I've read a little more about Adrian Clayborn, I'm warming up to the idea of drafting him. Not only is he very effective as a player, he seems like a very nice guy. And he's had to overcome adversity, which makes me admire him even more.

after further review myself i can see a olb ayers in our sight.

That's a good point. Ayers would be an excellent choice as well.

He punched a cab driver for honking at him. He had to EXIT his OWN VEHICLE then WALK OVER TO THE CAB in order to punch the driver.

Me? I don't give a crap - I like his aggressive style and ability to bend the pocket.

Heyward is good too.
Wilkerson I could see in the late 2nd round to early 3rd.

Ingram? Sure, why not.

Anyone for trading back???

Wow, I hadn't heard that one.

I'm sticking with Ingram, RB

Please let it be Muhammad Wilkerson.

Not that Jenkins was bad, but I wanted Clay Matthews III; remember even changing my avatar to his combine press release photo...

If we get Wilkerson, it will change the look of the defense completely!