Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

Yes.. it's tomorrow. Begins 7PM CST.

Put your thoughts here for the draft.

Round 1: Thursday, April 27 at 8 p.m. E.T.
Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m. E.T.
Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 29 at noon E.T.

For the locals, we gtg Saturday and visit.
https://blackandgold.com/saints/1027...sh-2023-a.html
For those that committed to coming over on Saturday, we look forward to it. it'll be smallish crowd. And that's fine by me. For those uncommitted that want to come Saturday, PM me.

Happy Saints Draft 2023 !!! :bng:

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I just hope Ireland and Co. did a thorough job and we hit on at least most of our picks no matter who we draft. I’m really looking forward to see the final result of this team come preseason.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I would love to see us trade back from the first round and pick up a couple of more top 100 picks to fill out the roster and give us valuable depth. Which we've been lacking the last couple of years and it cost us dearly when most our starters were spending time on the injury report.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

What if those picks don't make the final cut? There is a direct correlation between where a player is taken in the draft to their chances of making the roster. I believe the reason why the Saints have been so successful in the draft is because they target more higher round picks.

I know you are concerned about depth, but wasn't that why we were so involved in free agency? We picked up several vets that have already proven they can remain on rosters and contribute. Khalen Saunders, Nathan Shephard, Jamaal Williams, Lonnie Johnson, Johnathon Abram, Bryan Edwards and Storm Norton have all been depth additions so far. We still have almost $16 million in cap that can be used to fill in even more proven depth after the draft. I'm hoping the draft can produce three or four solid starters in the very near future. We have eight picks. That's plenty to take some shots at even more possible depth as is.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

The Saints seem to have a much higher success rate drafting in the middle rounds. I want Smash's draft party to be a success, but I'm willing to trade away lower round draft picks to move back into the mid rounds where we get a high percentage of our impact players.

Our draft success at the end of the first round doesn't inspire enthusiasm for moving up in the first and giving away picks that would likely impact the team this year. Trade back for more picks in the top 100 and give yourself better depth and competition for the starters.

Saunders and Shephard are just replacements for the DT's we lost and they both have been rotational depth before now. Jamal Williams is a slight upgrade over Ingram who is no longer on the team. The rest of them are serviceable but not necessarily an upgrade from last years talent. We simply replaced the players we lost in free agency. Now we can draft to supplement those players and move them down the roster for quality depth. We always fill holes before the draft in case the draft doesn't work out for us.

I just can't get on board with trading up in the first round at the price it would cost to move up for an impact player when impact players will be available when we pick at 29. I'm all about moving up in the mid rounds though.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

That’s a super cool flag Major!

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I heard that most teams will only have 15 or 16 players in this year's draft as 1st round grades on their boards. This is what a couple of former GM's were saying a couple of days ago on some NFL Radio show. In that case there's not much chance of one of the players the Saints really want falling to #29. Not impossible, but unlikely. That's why I'm expecting a move up a few slots if one of theirs is sitting at, let's say, #24.

As for mid round picks, if we want more of them I'd much, much rather trade up to there with late rounders instead of trading down there with higher rounders. I believe Loomis has made it pretty clear that's the way they see it, as well.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

For what it's worth ...

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

We're going to trade up. I can feel it in my bones. Probably for Kancey or one of the edges. I also wouldn't mind being wrong.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

Hope not... if any year is it, this is the year to trade BACK, with the depth at TE, DL and other positions of need.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I wouldn't hold my breath on Smoke. Core special teamer at best.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

If we trade back, I'm going to go out and buy a cake.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I still say we might have to move up to get Murphy and Smith but I would not complain! McBride in the 3rd!

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

In a dream scenario where I start calling myself Mickey and usurp the Saints GM Spot:

My strategy is to follow the positions of strength of the draft. Keep dem picks and in no particular order draft -

2 HB (one of them hopefully being Deuce Vaughn, who is a Maurice Jones-Drew/Sproles/LeSean McCoy hybrid)
2 CB (outside of Baptiste, we are basically wizards at drafting this position, and there are plenty of good ones in 2023)
1 DT
1 DE (or 'Edge' as they call em now)
1 TE
1 G/T (get younger and if he nails it push a vet like Throckmorton or Hurst out)

other moves/free agency:

- address LB and S heavily in UDFA
- Trade Roby for DL depth
- bring back DT Akiem Hicks
- Add WR T.Y. Hilton for veteran depth at WR. He actually looked solid with Cowboys last year.
- add one of the many quality oldhead free agent DE's available - Frank Clark, Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram, Carlos Dunlap
- Carry 4 HB's and split Kamara's time between WR and HB to help fill our WR depth. This also diminishes the impact when Kamara misses time. I do not want to be left scrambling for street free agents at HB when Kamara misses time due to legal issues/suspension!
- Bring back Ian Book in a few years after the Eagles cut him and he flourishes in the USFL. Hey, a kid can dream!

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I don't know anything about Deuce Vaughn but merging the names of former Saints RB's Deuce McAllister and Vaughn Dunbar is right on.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I'm interested in seeing what Chase Young cost via trade. They didn't pick up his 5 year option and he's been injured over the past few seasons. He should be motivated to play for a new contract and if he can be had for a 3rd rounder or two, it's an intriguing gamble. That Ohio State pipeline has been good to us.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

Draft Day is finally here!

https://media4.giphy.com/media/dANt2...giphy.gif&ct=g

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

https://a.espncdn.com/photo/2019/041...6x729_16-9.jpg


https://top10busts.com/wp-content/up...n-sullivan.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FRImkg7WUAII6ku.jpg:large


https://cdn.bleacherreport.net/image...jpg?1304109105
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3_oH...10033693.0.jpg



https://blackandgold.com/data:image/...FHEYxAUcRhA//Z

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3...87a5ff~mv2.png



https://blackandgold.com/data:image/...FHEYxAUcRhA//Z

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

This is what I'm expecting, too.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I'm down with this

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

Makes me wonder if his knee will ever be back to 100%.

Boy, that rookie (pre-injury) season he was almost unblockable.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I like the way you think. :chug:.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

Be prepared for surprises.

In 2015 the Saints 1st round picks were Andrus Peat and Stephone Anthony
In 2018 (and 2019) the Saints picked Davenport in the 1st round
In 2020 the Saints picked Ruiz in the 1st round
In 2021 the Saints picked Payton Turner in the 1st round
All of those picks surprised me at the time.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

Every pick is a surprise for me. Beyond the top eight to ten names that are plastered all over the place for the month before the draft I haven't heard of any of these players. That's what what I look forward to when it comes to the actual days of the draft. Getting to learn about our new players.

Every year it's the same thing. It seems like 2/3rd's, or more, of all fans are pissed off after the draft because their team didn't pick who they wanted or expected. Having no specific wants or expectations I also have no disappointments, I suppose. Just looking forward to "meeting" our new players!

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I doubt you are alone in that, Cam. :D

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

2nd contracts are often the costliest.

If we're going to do a 2nd contract for anybody, we should make a run at BDJ, QB Jeaux Burreaux. Would Cincy be crazy enough to drag it out like the Lamar Jackson saga?

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I doubt it. The whole ordeal with Jackson is his style of play. Way too much risk to buy in that much. Burrow doesn't present anywhere near that degree of risk.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

No :p

Joe Cool will retire a Bengal.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

My main hope is a TE is selected at 40.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

This. The Chase Young thing seems to risky for us. For a team like Atlanta or Chicago that has lots of cap room, they are in a better situation to roll those dice.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

And my hope is that TE is Darnell Washington

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

My hope is that we get three or four players that can make an impact.

:bng:

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

Possibly the ONE and only opinion i agree with you on..... :beatnik:

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

The overall mindset is to draft a guy in the 1st round that becomes a quality starter for years to come.

See Jordan, Ingram, Latt, Ramz, etc.

If they overachieve & become eventual All Pros...lagniappe.

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

I’m thinking if we trade up, it’s a possibility it could be for Brian Branch as well…definitely wouldn’t rule that out

Re: Official 2023 Saints Draft Thread
 

HOT TAKE !!

The Saints will move up for a defensive lineman.

It's almost a given.

Don't see them staying @ #29.