DT signed, now what?
 

It appears the D-line and RB are set for 2004 mostly.
Now we address CB and LB.
Assuming we don’t bring in a quality FA LB or CB…

I think its possible to head into 2004 with Ambrose, Thomas, Carter (if he re-signs for less money) and draft a stud with pick 1 or 2A. If Carter does re-sign it gives us some more flexibility to pick the best LB/CB available at #1.

What would you do?
Take a day 1 starter at LB (DJ Williams, Vilma or Dansby) and a CB that may need half a season to develop?
Or
Take a CB that can start right away and draft a LB who may need half a season to develop like a Donterrius Thomas or one of those Ga. Tech guys etc…)?

Best case is that the LB and CB we pick can both be day 1 starters, but that’s kinda overly optimistic. Or maybe not?

DT signed, now what?
 

Although I think our greatest need is at LB, I think the Saints should take the CB that can start from day 1 first because good CB\'s are harder to find. Hopefully, we\'re not through in FA this year and can pick up a good LB there.

DT signed, now what?
 

If DJ Williams is there when we pick we need to snag him. There will be a quality CB there in the Second round. Its easier for LB to step in and play than it is for a CB, we can take a 2nd round or move up with out 2 2 rounders pick up a CB and give hims some time and as insurance... learn the ropes and turn it over to him next year. Sign Carter

DT signed, now what?
 

Hopefully we can see Boulware available in the 2nd round at the least. Pick up the South Carolina cb in the 1st if he is available, then go with Boulware in 2.

DT signed, now what?
 

A stud LB has more impact on his team - especially ours where the need is biggest. Take an LB first. I don\'t see any Champ Bailey/Charles Woodson type studs at CB. There could be some fixtures at LB for years to come. Go LB, then worry about corner. Of course, realistically, they\'ll go corner first.

DT signed, now what?
 

I could not agree with you more... 1st round I love DJ Williams at the 18th pick but some teams have him higher some lower. We can get a great CB in the second round easy, there are a few that you can just pick a numer and take the one closer... not going to make much of a difference... after the first 5 LB\'s there is all junk. DJ Willimas is the best OLB I believe in the draft and will make a huge impact for years to come.

DT signed, now what?
 

i would rather see us sign ian gold and draft vilma, then maybe package our two 2nd round picks to move up for a cb

DT signed, now what?
 

DJ Williams wasn\'t even the best LB on his team. He was second best and he is second best in the draft. Jon Vilma is the guy we need to get. Then pick up two CB\'s in the 2nd round. Keith Smith & Joey Thomas should both be there for us. Both are small school guys and one could end up starting by mid-season (see charles tillman last year).

DT signed, now what?
 

I agree with the first half, but why would we trade up and risk one pick on a CB when we could use both on CB\'s and have a better chance of finding a good one? There are no stand-out corners. And trading both of our 2nd round picks for any of them, would be dumb...

DT signed, now what?
 

Vilma is a MLB and DJ WIlliams is an OLB there is a difference at that position for one. Just because a player is great in College doesn\'t gareentee he will be great in the NFL. There are many who develop into being great players in the NFL. DJ Williams has the attitude and will bring lots of tangibles to this team in years to come. He could end up a starter this year and polishing him up into a force to be recon with for years to come. Any CB we draft will take a year or 2-3 years to fit in. coverages and speed is a different world in the NFL. Easier to make up for a mistake at LB than it is at CB.. LB you can get help... CB... you\'re on an island.

I am not opposed to drafting DJ WIlliams and then in the second 2 CB \'s... hopes one could develop faster and then both if not at least one starting next year to replace Carter. I think we keep carter this year... perhaps bring in Ian Gold, draft Williams and see how the cookie crumbles this year. FB is a position of interest to me of late though.

[Edited on 9/3/2004 by deadflatbird]

DT signed, now what?
 

You\'re missing the point. We have several OLB\'s already. If we bring in Gold, he may be our only real starter, but we still have several guys who could play opposite of him. We don\'t have a MLB on the roster (ruff & smith both are nothing more than backups) and there aren\'t any in FA that we can pick up to start now. We need Vilma, he is the MLB and he would start from day one.

I\'m not saying we couldn\'t use DJ Williams, I would be fine with us drafting him because he should be a hell of a player. But I think we would be better off with Vilma.

BTW, as far as I know, DJ Williams has only played two years at LB. I think there is going to be a year or two of learning for him on the pro level and we need an impact player.

DT signed, now what?
 

Quite simply, I want two things: a MLB and a corner.

So, in my humble opinion, if Vilma is available at number eighteen, we take him. I\'m from the Whodat school o\' defense, I guess. I value the linebacker. Give me a good front seven and a mediocre secondary any day.

Vilma will be able to start at least by midseason, especially with the void we have in the middle.

If Vilma\'s not there, we take a corner with the round one pick and Rod Davis with one of our twos.

.02

DT signed, now what?
 

Or we could trade Brooks and our #1 with the Chargers to go get Eli and then use the 2 second rounders on DJ Williams or Lehman and Rod Davis.

DT signed, now what?
 

Yeah, lets trade for Eli and then sit back for three years and wait for him to develop. Then 7 years down to road, have to cut half our team to give him a new contract. Sorry, but I\'d much rather stick with Brooks.

DT signed, now what?
 

Vilma will not be there at 18... NO WAY. I think the Saints are going to sign Gold. I think we will be fine at CB keepin Carter. Best athlete is DJ WIlliams at the 18th pick, of course if he is there and I think he will be. 2nd rounder I like getting a CB the ones that will be there are good and will contribute on special teams and back up until they are comfortable with the NFL - style.

DT signed, now what?
 

A good LB squad automatically makes the CB\'s better. Lets face it the guys we have, haven\'t had much help in that department. If we could just get a couple of LB\'s that know how to tackle it would help.

DT signed, now what?
 

Good to see you, stranger.

I think the number eighteen pick should be a MLB, so if Vilma\'s not there, I think we should take a corner. Dunta Robinson will fall to the bottom of the first, and I\'d rather have him over another OLB. Also, if we don\'t get Vilma in the first round, we can still fill the void at MLB for the next decade with a star player from my alma mater....

Rod Davis!!

.02

DT signed, now what?
 

I think Rod Davis would be a solid choice. He isn\'t getting the press that alot of the other guys are, but everything I\'ve read on him says there is nothing but upside to him. Plus, he would be good for the local interest. I gotta agree though, a solid linebacking corps takes a couple of years off of your corners. You stop the run, and get solid pressure on the pass, and receivers won\'t have 6 seconds to run in the secondary. With that kind of time I don\'t care who you have playing corner. If we shore up our front seven, our current DB\'s will be ok. Not great but ok. We pick a young corner in round two and he\'s got a season to learn.

DT signed, now what?
 

Let\'s not act like Brooks is exactly a bargain QB. Next year his cap number jumps up to over $5 million and the year following to over $6 million.
If we pay a QB over $5 million, shouldn\'t we do better than 7-9 or 8-8?

The only other thing to say would be that I recall the fit Brooks threw during his first contract holdout. If this 5 year old in a 28 year old body expected elite money last time, don\'t you think he\'s going to want Manning money next time?

If we end up paying Manning money anyway, let\'s just get a Manning and have the wins to show for it.

Other than that, let\'s sign Dhani Jones and Trotter and pick up a rookie OLB in round 2.

DT signed, now what?
 

Brooks is not the problem. Our ****ty coaching staff and awful run defense is why we are always around .500

$5m is not a lot for a starting QB. Peyton Manning gets paid twice that and in two or three years his cap number jumps up to $17m. If we were to have Eli, we would be in the same boat. Sure you may have a great QB, but you don\'t have any money to spend on the rest of your team so you\'re going to end up finishing around .500 anyway.