Ways To Approach The Draft

Rugby Saint II · 04-01-2023, 06:52 PM

Each year NFL teams address filling team needs differently. Some teams build through the draft each year while others are big players in free agency. Some teams draft BPA while other teams draft targeted players that they covet. Some teams are heavy players in the first wave of free agency, while other teams wait for the second tier players to spend their money. Some teams draft players with a role in mind and develop players into starters. Other teams only draft players they think are immediate starters.

Some teams move up to address their needs with players they covet. Others move back and take BPA to fill out their roster with additional picks. Some teams try to pick 22 starters. Some teams fill their roster with role players who can excel in their system. The Saints numerous offensive and defensive packages are evidence of this. Incidentally, when I started playing rugby in '78 there was only one sub allowed during the 80 minute non stop match. Now we allow eight subs. Back then odds favored the team that was toughest and most durable.

This year the Saints were big players early in free agency for a change rather than waiting for the second wave of less expensive affordable free agents. Under Sean Payton the Saints have filled out their roster with mid tier free agents allowing them to draft BPA. The Saints have then used a mixture of moving up for players they covet and BPA to fill out the team with the draft.

Every team has a model that they follow but the Saints have blended several models together and each year they seem to stay within their model. This year was no exception. Even though it was a slightly different offseason approach than when Sean Payton was here. Should we move up or stand pat for BPA? Who would you move up for in each round and who is the BPA in each round?

Boston Saint · 04-01-2023, 07:07 PM

Good post Rugby. How teams approach things depends upon need; especially upon quarterback need. If you are a team that doesn’t have an established play caller that you are comfortable with then your first look each year is who am I going to turn to for that guy? Everything else is sort of a luxury

AsylumGuido · 04-01-2023, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by Boston Saint

Good post Rugby. How teams approach things depends upon need; especially upon quarterback need. If you are a team that doesn’t have an established play caller that you are comfortable with then your first look each year is who am I going to turn to for that guy? Everything else is sort of a luxury

I really think the Saints are now thinking they've got that luxury providing piece in Carr and I feel the same way. Carr is established and has put up really great numbers considering the subpar accompaniment he has been provided. We've been active early in the free agent market and I wouldn't be surprised if we step up for someone they feel is important. And I also don't doubt they'll pick up some pleasant surprises late and in the UDFA market.

Boston Saint · 04-01-2023, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

I really think the Saints are now thinking they've got that luxury providing piece in Carr and I feel the same way. Carr is established and has put up really great numbers considering the subpar accompaniment he has been provided. We've been active early in the free agent market and I wouldn't be surprised if we step up for someone they feel is important. And I also don't doubt they'll pick up some pleasant surprises late and in the UDFA market.

That’s my hope

Rugby Saint II · 04-01-2023, 08:26 PM

Let's hope Dennis Allen doesn't draft players who excel at one thing then move them and train them at another position. More often than not it isn't successful. It can work though, and Juwan Johnson proved that last year by converting to TE. But we didn't draft him to play TE. He showed promise and the team made a new vision for him at TE an he made the transition beautifully. Baun not so much.

WW_Who_Dat · 04-01-2023, 10:42 PM

Just the be clear Juwan Johnson went undrafted in 2020 NFL draft and sign with the saints after the draft.

AsylumGuido · 04-02-2023, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by WW_Who_Dat

Just the be clear Juwan Johnson went undrafted in 2020 NFL draft and sign with the saints after the draft.

Once again the Saints success with the UFDA's. That's the main reason I'd rather see them trade up using those late rounders instead of trading down with earlier picks to gain late rounders. They can still get players they've graded as late rounders post draft. And what makes it even better is that those players CHOOSE to come to Nola instead of be forced via the draft.

rezburna · 04-02-2023, 11:06 AM

I’m more of a “go and get who you want” type of person. I’ll pick three players total if they’re the three guys I want.

Rugby Saint II · 04-02-2023, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by rezburna

I’m more of a “go and get who you want” type of person. I’ll pick three players total if they’re the three guys I want.

I feel like that has been a good strategy for us to fill out the top of the roster after free agency filled the holes. I wonder if this might be the year to stand pat and take what the BPA in the first, second, and third round? I am fine with trading up to get what you want in the draft, like we do every year, if the Saints covet a player, especially in the middle and late rounds for a player that falls into range.

WW_Who_Dat · 04-02-2023, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II

I feel like that has been a good strategy for us to fill out the top of the roster after free agency filled the holes. I wonder if this might be the year to stand pat and take what the BPA in the first, second, and third round? I am fine with trading up to get what you want in the draft, like we do every year, if the Saints covet a player, especially in the middle and late rounds for a player that falls into range.

OMG Ruby if the Loomis Ireland and Allen do that again we will see mushroom cloud on the horizon around Bako’s coordinates.

04-01-2023, 06:52 PM	#1
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,073	Ways To Approach The Draft Each year NFL teams address filling team needs differently. Some teams build through the draft each year while others are big players in free agency. Some teams draft BPA while other teams draft targeted players that they covet. Some teams are heavy players in the first wave of free agency, while other teams wait for the second tier players to spend their money. Some teams draft players with a role in mind and develop players into starters. Other teams only draft players they think are immediate starters. Some teams move up to address their needs with players they covet. Others move back and take BPA to fill out their roster with additional picks. Some teams try to pick 22 starters. Some teams fill their roster with role players who can excel in their system. The Saints numerous offensive and defensive packages are evidence of this. Incidentally, when I started playing rugby in '78 there was only one sub allowed during the 80 minute non stop match. Now we allow eight subs. Back then odds favored the team that was toughest and most durable. This year the Saints were big players early in free agency for a change rather than waiting for the second wave of less expensive affordable free agents. Under Sean Payton the Saints have filled out their roster with mid tier free agents allowing them to draft BPA. The Saints have then used a mixture of moving up for players they covet and BPA to fill out the team with the draft. Every team has a model that they follow but the Saints have blended several models together and each year they seem to stay within their model. This year was no exception. Even though it was a slightly different offseason approach than when Sean Payton was here. Should we move up or stand pat for BPA? Who would you move up for in each round and who is the BPA in each round? AsylumGuido, WW_Who_Dat and Boston Saint like this.
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04-01-2023, 07:07 PM	#2
Boston Saint 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 5,137	Re: Ways To Approach The Draft Good post Rugby. How teams approach things depends upon need; especially upon quarterback need. If you are a team that doesn’t have an established play caller that you are comfortable with then your first look each year is who am I going to turn to for that guy? Everything else is sort of a luxury AsylumGuido, SmashMouth and Rugby Saint II like this.

04-01-2023, 07:35 PM	#3
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,274	Re: Ways To Approach The Draft Originally Posted by Boston Saint Good post Rugby. How teams approach things depends upon need; especially upon quarterback need. If you are a team that doesn’t have an established play caller that you are comfortable with then your first look each year is who am I going to turn to for that guy? Everything else is sort of a luxury I really think the Saints are now thinking they've got that luxury providing piece in Carr and I feel the same way. Carr is established and has put up really great numbers considering the subpar accompaniment he has been provided. We've been active early in the free agent market and I wouldn't be surprised if we step up for someone they feel is important. And I also don't doubt they'll pick up some pleasant surprises late and in the UDFA market. Rugby Saint II likes this.

04-01-2023, 08:23 PM	#4
Boston Saint 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 5,137	Re: Ways To Approach The Draft Originally Posted by AsylumGuido I really think the Saints are now thinking they've got that luxury providing piece in Carr and I feel the same way. Carr is established and has put up really great numbers considering the subpar accompaniment he has been provided. We've been active early in the free agent market and I wouldn't be surprised if we step up for someone they feel is important. And I also don't doubt they'll pick up some pleasant surprises late and in the UDFA market. That’s my hope

04-01-2023, 08:26 PM	#5
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,073	Re: Ways To Approach The Draft Let's hope Dennis Allen doesn't draft players who excel at one thing then move them and train them at another position. More often than not it isn't successful. It can work though, and Juwan Johnson proved that last year by converting to TE. But we didn't draft him to play TE. He showed promise and the team made a new vision for him at TE an he made the transition beautifully. Baun not so much.

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04-01-2023, 10:42 PM	#6
WW_Who_Dat 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lafayette, La and Valencia CA Posts: 1,270 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Ways To Approach The Draft Just the be clear Juwan Johnson went undrafted in 2020 NFL draft and sign with the saints after the draft. saintsfan1976, SmashMouth and Rugby Saint II like this.

04-02-2023, 09:25 AM	#7
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,274	Re: Ways To Approach The Draft Originally Posted by WW_Who_Dat Just the be clear Juwan Johnson went undrafted in 2020 NFL draft and sign with the saints after the draft. Once again the Saints success with the UFDA's. That's the main reason I'd rather see them trade up using those late rounders instead of trading down with earlier picks to gain late rounders. They can still get players they've graded as late rounders post draft. And what makes it even better is that those players CHOOSE to come to Nola instead of be forced via the draft. Rugby Saint II likes this.

04-02-2023, 11:06 AM	#8
rezburna 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kenner, LA Posts: 7,935	Re: Ways To Approach The Draft I’m more of a “go and get who you want” type of person. I’ll pick three players total if they’re the three guys I want. saintsfan1976, AsylumGuido, Rugby Saint II and 1 others like this.

04-02-2023, 01:52 PM	#9
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,073	Re: Ways To Approach The Draft Originally Posted by rezburna I’m more of a “go and get who you want” type of person. I’ll pick three players total if they’re the three guys I want. I feel like that has been a good strategy for us to fill out the top of the roster after free agency filled the holes. I wonder if this might be the year to stand pat and take what the BPA in the first, second, and third round? I am fine with trading up to get what you want in the draft, like we do every year, if the Saints covet a player, especially in the middle and late rounds for a player that falls into range.

04-02-2023, 02:10 PM	#10
WW_Who_Dat 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lafayette, La and Valencia CA Posts: 1,270 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Ways To Approach The Draft Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II I feel like that has been a good strategy for us to fill out the top of the roster after free agency filled the holes. I wonder if this might be the year to stand pat and take what the BPA in the first, second, and third round? I am fine with trading up to get what you want in the draft, like we do every year, if the Saints covet a player, especially in the middle and late rounds for a player that falls into range. OMG Ruby if the Loomis Ireland and Allen do that again we will see mushroom cloud on the horizon around Bako’s coordinates. Rugby Saint II likes this.