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PFF graded out Bush's coverage skills the highest of the Saints safeties last season and 17th among 171 safeties in the NFL.

He's also a hard hitter.

Danno

I don't really start studying the draft until about a week ago, but from what I see so far I'd rather have...

CB-Gilbert
CB-Dennard
CB-Fuller
LB-Mosley
LB-Ford
LB-Shazier (but kinda iffy over Pryor)
DT-Nix
WR-Cooks
WR-OBJ

All of the above have just as much potential to fall as Pryor does. One of those guys will be there. I'd prefer all of them to Pryor.

NonieT

Maybe their just trying to yank Atlanta's chain. You know how badly they need a safety and I'm sure they'd love to have Pryor.

voodooido

They also had in CB Colvin from Ok. I have seen him going from the 4th to the 6th rd

QBREES9

When is the draft, or Draft day that is.

hagan714

Unless the sky falls or the saint pull a ditka none will be there when we pick

Besides i still like Deone Bucannon better than Calvin Pryor anyways.

saints annual smoke screen pre draft visits

alleycat_126

My thought is a little on the wild side. What if you aren't bringing Ball in to play safety. The safeties as we look at it would be Vaccaro, Bush, Bryd, and Ball. If they are thinking Ball is gonna play special teams and Linebacker as he did in Canada then the thinking of getting a falling Calvin Pryor makes perfect sense. Also with more of the three safety looks you would be looking at pryor as a safety who held his own as a cb/safety hybrid player <<< again just my hypothetical on what they would be thinking inviting Pryor. Also Vaccaro didn't finish the season, another insurance policy making your safety combinations dangerous regardless of which ones are on the field.

If Gilbert drops there is no way you can pass up his multiple threats both as a corner and as a kick returner. I'm not in the mindset of reaching. but if he falls into I think you would be crazy to let him fall past us.

You shouldn't throw stones if you live in a glass house, and if have a glass jaw you should watch your mouth..... cause I'll break your face!!! -50 cent

hagan714

Rice? odds are he will be in the tub come playoffs so unless he is cheap i say pass

K Major

+1. Where has all the buzz gone with Deonne as of late? I haven't heard the likes of Mayock, McShay etc call his name. This guy seems to have the potential of becoming a serious ball hawk at the NFL level.

I too would take Buchanon over Pryor.

saintsfan1976

From my ESPN insider:

1. Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State

Dennard lacks the elite speed of some other cornerbacks, but he is the most complete guy at the position in terms of his skill set. I love his physicality and experience (three-year starter at MSU), and he got his hands on 20 passes, including 10 interceptions, in his career. Most importantly, he played against big-time competition in the Big Ten. He's not a 4.4-40 guy (4.51 at the combine), but he's got enough speed to stay with receivers, and I really like how he presses. He plays the run well and can recognize pattern combinations. He's going to be a solid player and has good size (5-foot-11, 199 pounds), although his injury history is a little bit of a concern.

2. Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State

Gilbert has a ton of natural ability, and there isn't a lot separating him from being No. 1 on this list. He's got range and is a factor in the return game (six career return TDs), and I love his length (33 1/8-inch arms) and speed (4.37 40-yard dash). Most importantly, he's a natural athlete and displays excellent hip flexion and acceleration. My biggest issue with him is his tackling. He doesn't wrap up well and misses a lot of tackles as a result. Like other players with a ton of natural ability, he can also be lax with his technique. He's better in off coverage than press, but he does have the speed to recover if he gets beaten.

3. Bradley Roby, Ohio State

Roby is probably the cornerback with the most natural ability in this class. He's got great quick-twitch ability and long speed (4.39 40) and OK ball skills (36 passes defensed in his career, but only eight INTs). Watching him on tape, I like his form tackling; he's not afraid to get up near the line of scrimmage and play the run. He's a versatile corner who can succeed in both man and off coverage. Roby definitely needs to work on his focus and technique, but if he does, he could end up moving up this list when we look back in a couple of years.


If TCU's Jason Verrett were a few inches taller, he might be on top of this list.

4. Jason Verrett, TCU

The knock on Verrett is that he's a bit undersized (5-9, 189), but I like this kid's toughness. If he were a couple of inches taller, he'd likely be in the discussion for the No. 1 spot on this list. Right now, I think he's a perfect fit in the slot, because he has the flexibility and foot quickness to keep up with receivers such as Percy Harvin, but also the strength to match up against an Anquan Boldin. Verrett is also very athletic, as displayed by a 39-inch vertical leap, 128-inch broad jump and 6.69-second three-cone drill at the combine. He's better in off-man than bump coverage and has good ball skills. He also has great discipline, which is key for a slot corner, and is very good -- and willing -- in run support.

5. Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State

Joyner is a tough player with really good closing speed and vision. Undersized at 5-8, 184, he should be strictly a nickel corner. The bigger question is going to be: Can he hold up against the run? He's a very competitive CB with good vision and instincts but is better against quicker receivers than seam-stretching tight ends. I love the fact that he showed up big in big-time games and was a galvanizing force for that FSU defense on its run to a national championship.

Honorable mention

Pierre Desir, Lindenwood

The inaugural Cliff Harris Award winner (best small-school defensive player), I think Desir has the potential to be a real steal in the middle rounds. With 25 interceptions in his college career and 52 passes defensed, he clearly has terrific ball skills. The level of competition he faced is a concern, along with the fact that he mostly played off coverage and let his athleticism dominate. But he has size (6-1, 198), and you simply can't teach his ability to take the ball away. One opposing coach I spoke with couldn't stop singing Desir's praises and reassured me that Desir could handle the jump in competition level. Desir could be a real difference-maker from late Day 2 or early Day 3 of the draft.

Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Nebraska

A converted wideout, Jean-Baptiste has the length (6-3, 32 3/8-inch arms) and athleticism that you look for in a corner for today's NFL. He lacks long speed (4.61 40) but can compensate for that with that length. He's still new to the position, so he'll need a little while to learn the concepts and angles. I think he can be a successful press corner on the outside but has the potential to move inside as well.