12 DL have first round rankings
 

Mike Mayock claims that 12 DL have 1st rd grades. Well that tells me should draft 3 to 4 DL players. Carolina pick DTs one and two and it worked out well for them. I would love to see us load up at DT and DE early. Building from the trenches out is an accepted strategy in the nfl. This seems to be the year for such a strategy. Ideally a team needs a three player rotation. Our best player at DT was an aging pro bowl player Kevin Williams. John Jenkins has not lived up to his earlier promise. Tyler Davidson seems to have upside as a rotational piece
The Rookies tba interest me the most are Ashawn Robinson DT/DE ,Andrew Billings DT ,Sheldon Rankins DT, Kenny Clark DT,Jarren Reed DT, Shag Lawson DE,Emanuel Ogbah DE,Kevin Dodd DE . IMHO taking big uglies is the way to build on both sides of the line. We have a opportunity this draft to turn a liability on defense and turn it into a strength . These players command big money in free agency . This strategy has the advantage of filling key position at low price providing cap relief. I would consider trading down to move higher in the second rd to pick one of these DL that are likely to be available at the top of the second rd.. Thoughts ,ideas opinions?

Re: 12 DL have first round rankings
 

Oh hell yes!!!!

Re: 12 DL have first round rankings
 

Seems like every other draft season, we have a boat-load of defensive linemen that have these first-round rankings, yet three, four seasons down road, only two, maybe three actually realize their value...

Yes Carolina has a good defensive line, but very few people can name them; but more people are familiar with Denver's Derek Wolfe and Malick Jackson, who were second and fifth round picks, respectively...

The only three defensive linemen I'd consider taking in the first round are Jarran Reed, Kevin Dodd and LaTech's Vernon Butler - and that would be with Pick Nos. 20 and later...

Just don't want to see us "reach" on a defensive lineman at No. 12 when this class is very deep at DL and not much will seperate these players in a couple of seasons...

The success has more to do with coaching and scheme than whether they were taken in the first round vs second and fifth round...

Re: 12 DL have first round rankings
 

Nice thing about this draft it appears that you can get some solid DTs all the way through the 7th round. There are a couple of troubled youth at DT that can be had as UDFA that have no reason being there except for the fact it appears so deep.

It does not look near as deep at LB or true DE. I am not overly crazy about the talent level in round 1 or the lack of for either position. Day two the quality levels out pretty good. IMO.

This is why I would not be effected if the saints did the unheard off and traded back, got a few additional picks. we can pick more than a set of bookends at DT to help with this defense. Just to name a few.

DT A'Shawn Robinson, Vetron Butler, Austin Johnson, D.J. Reader, Darius Latham
DT/DE Jarran Reed, Adam Gotsis, Quinton Jefferson, Chris Jones, Matt Ioannidis

So trading back and rolling the dice on a kid like DT Vetron Butler would not get me terribly upset because it is so deep. Plus CB/S looks to be one of the better drafts in a long while, Another case for getting more picks. So the possible combinations and options look to be endless for the saint. Odds of 2 DT this year appears to be good.

Lesson to be learned.
Akiem Hicks proved in new england he is better suited at DT than at DE. Shame we could not figure that one out. He appears ready to make his pay day else where.

Re: 12 DL have first round rankings
 

I would not be upset if we chose a D-Lineman with each of our first 3 picks...that's just how bad our Front 7 really is.

Of course then we'd need someone to actually coach them.

Re: 12 DL have first round rankings
 

I'd be elated with any of the aforementioned players. All have a solid body of work and considered "difference makers" at the next level.

Side note - I'd add A Billings to that short list. Country strong & was a big nasty in that middle for Baylor. I think he'll still be on the board at the latter half of the 1st rd.

Re: 12 DL have first round rankings
 

some one sell me on Kevin Dodd. I see Dodd as a player that did next to nothing but hold his ground for the first half of the season, which is a positive. But he started having an impact in the second half of the year after D.J. Reader returned to the field. Then everyone started talking about Dodd

D.J. Reader IMO is getting the short end of the stick and gets huge props for his effect on the DL as a whole.

D.J. Reader is my under the radar, under appreciated, over scouted and undervalued Rodney Dangerfield of the Clemson defense.

so trade down pocket a few picks and bookend these two

R1 - Vetron Butler DT LA Tech 6032 325 5.06

R4 - D.J. Reader DT/OG Clemson 6021 325 5.04

D.J. Reader and Austin Johnson get no respect for doing the dirty work.

Re: 12 DL have first round rankings
 

Hagan - the only thing that would concern me of Dodd is that he has only played one full year in the trenches. I like the motor, the size & instincts to read screens better than most.

In that Bama title game, he flat out balled under the big lights. I don't think the game at the NFL level will be too big for him & has a high ceiling.

He could possible be a day 2 guy. I just hope that he doesn't end up playing close to home (Carolina Panthers).

Re: 12 DL have first round rankings
 

It's a good thing I'm not a gambling man or I'd be willing to bet we get at least two DL in this draft plus possibly a couple of UDFA's. But the FO never does what I expect.

Re: 12 DL have first round rankings
 

Butler and Johnson wouldn't be a bad combo.