2017 Saints Post Combine Draft

With 95% of the off season beauty shows completed and only pro days left. There are only a few players left with a chance to answer the scouting questions and/or leave them scrambling for tape for those players completely over looked. There is always pro days to make one noticed or save ones draft stock. But I am not going there, yet

Free Agency so far

Retained: RB Travaris Cadet, DT Nick Fairley.
Added: WR Ted Ginn Jr. (Panthers), LB A.J. Klein (Panthers), DE Alex Okafor (Cardinals), G Larry Warford (Lions).
Lost: S Jairus Byrd (released), WR Brandin Cooks (trade Patriots), DE Kasim Edebali (Broncos).
Top player with trade value: LB Stephone Anthony


Round 1 - 11
Throw out needs and ask yourself which players in the draft are the safest pick to become starters day 1. Then ask yourself which players are elites at their position. With disregard for position and needs there are just a handful of players that meet all requirements. Then those players should make up your short list and are the most logical players to pick. Most will be gone by

Lets start replacing Cooks production and get an out from that Fleener contract.


#1 Perennial Pro Bowler Freak. He is an under-utilization receiving TE that offers mismatch opportunities and he is an under valued blocker,“His upside is through the roof,” another scout said, referring to Howard. “He’s a phenomenal human being and a great worker. At Alabama, you’re a blocker first and a receiver second. He’s grown as a blocker from a toughness and effort standpoint, and as a receiver he’s still a little untapped.” Howard is an explosive athlete with breakaway speed, lateral agility, and balance and is projected to be a tight end/hybrid slot receiver that is more reliable run blocker than people give him credit for. No one has changed my mind so far that is is the smartest pick for the saints. When you look at size and speed he can double as a WR. The only knock is how little Bame used him in the passing game. All he did in the pre-draft testing was step up and take on every opportunity to show what he can do. He did not skip an opportunity despite being the best TE in the draft and sure fired top 20 draft pick. Now I fear he will be off the board when we pick at 11.

Freak part? At the combine he ran as fast as David Johnson, beat Tyler Lockett's 3-cone, and beat Khalil Mack's shuttle


Round 1 - 32
The Cooks trade makes this pick huge


RAW but a tremendous athlete and defends both the run and pass at a high level. He went to Wisconsin projected as a monster tight end, but switched to defense and made a name for himself at inside and outside linebacker. Quick off the snap and using his hands to good effect, He will attack blockers using his excellent length by using a technique known as push-pull, which upsets the balance of the opponent. Watt also is decisive and quick when it comes to closing the lanes for running backs, and he always tackles well. He’s always searching for the ball. Win with technique, rather than athleticism. Roll of the dice on a player in his first full season as a starter posted 11.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in 2016, Could he be the answer to DE issue? This is what I love about players not married to one position. IMO TJ is made for the big money position of DE racking up sacks and TFF. Huge dividend is his ability to drop into coverage from his DE position. Just so much athletic versatility to work with.

Freak part? Combine test scores were comparable to Khalil Mac


Round 2 - 42
Saints need to add height and athleticism to the CB corp.


RAW but potential is sky high. Rare athlete in terms of athleticism and quickness especially for a guy so big. 3-cone 6.56! Has value at both safety and all three CB positions. A strong safety-turned-corner that may have the skill set to be groomed for FS. A potential press CB.has the height, length and speed that translates well to the next level. For his length, he has good movement skills which include the ability to flip his hips. King is an aggressive player and doesn’t hesitate to support the run. Excellent open field tackler. So he is a specialty CB to handle match ups of equal size. Kelvin Benjamin, Greg Olsen, Devin Funchess, Luke Stocker, Mike Evans and Mohamed Sanu all come to mind.

Freak part? His 20 & 60 Shuttles and 3 cone are all better than Fabian Moreau


Round 3 - 76
Love wins out

Every year there is one player the word LOVE is attached a prospect early on by the saints and we always end up over drafting them. So here is this year man crush for the saints. So love wins out over my pick


Difficult to get a read on because he was used like an actual NFL linebacker. Great body type, physically ripped, and has great length for his weight (33 inch arms). Bowser probably dropped into coverage more than any DE/OLB in this year’s class. Does well in zone coverage, asked to spot drop mostly, but experience walling and rerouting receivers and competent doing so. Fluid turn dropping, no stiffness and gets to his spot in a hurry. High-motor player, chases the ball, doesn’t loaf. "Not natural pass rusher?.” Has go-to pass rush move (dip/rip). Seems to lack counter move, Technique when converting speed to power needs work. But it should be noted that Bowser had a lot on his plate and didn’t get to just go forward and be a “true” pass rusher, either. Asked to one-gap a lot against the run so his run defense grade a bit incomplete. Playing SLB behind a player like Watt frees Tyus to do what he does best. Drop into coverage and chase down RB while working on his blitz skill set.

Freak test? Combine test scores were comparable to TJ Watt and Khalil Mac



Round 3 - 103
The Cooks trade Lets draft a player to groom at safety


I really like Jenkin. I think he can definitely start as a SS but for now he is that sub-package guy for the Saints. He could match up on tight ends as a hybrid/box safety in a Patrick Chung-sense because he has size, physicality, and experience in man coverage. But he has a strong football IQ and reads his keys well so as a starting FS is not out of the question down the road once the Saints realize that Bell might not be the answer at FS. He has the ability to be that intermediate player in the middle to make receivers second-guess when ever they enter his area. He’ll come down aggressively against the run to make the tackle or put that final jolt into a running back.While a good solid tackler he sets up almost perfectly, launches into the runner nicely but he could get coached up on the final step of wrapping up the runner. his medicals have to check out.


Round 6 - 196
Replacement for Dannell Ellerbe


Evans is a physical linebacker with good athleticism and instincts. He has the vision and speed to read a play and shoot through a gap to make a stop. Evans coverage skills are proficient resulting in several interceptions and pass break ups. Solid technique as a tackler. Great athleticism for the position. Shows solid overall awareness on the field in space and in zone coverage. Good instincts for the position. Coverage is where Evans really excels and should be able to be subbed into packages implemented on obvious passing downs, as well as . A solid option to play special teams. Needs to work on getting stronger and developing a better technique.


Round 7 - 229
Time to replace Cook with a #2


Ok here is the big play threat to anchor the deep routes for the saints. Productive at the lower levels and shows signs of plenty of upside to work with. Miss match nightmare that can hammer DBs. He is more than capable of handling those old school limited tree streaker routes of Robert Mechuem day looks good at back shoulder throws. Adjust well. Hand catcher. Fights well for jump ball


UDFA
Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma 6011 226 4.50 #25 rSo ??????????????????.
Chris Carson RB Oklahoma State 6005 215 4.52 #32 Sr
Brendan Langley, CB/PR, Lamar 6002 199 4.43 #21 rSr
Daniel Brunskill OT/TE/ILB San Diego State 6051 273 4.97 rSr #71
Gavin Andrews C/OG/OT Oregon St. 6047 339 5.25 #62 rSr
Steven Moore ROT/LOT California 6052 305 5.18 #64 rSr
Ralph Green III DT Indiana 6036 320 5.14 #93 rSr
Langi Harvey ILB/SLB/FB BYU 6015 252 4.77 #21 rSr
Mack Hollins WR NC State 6036 221 4.53 #13 Sr