BG12136

The more I read and monitor mock drafts, granted you have to take this all with a grain of salt - were not sitting in the Saints war room after all, it appears to me that the Saints will be doing one of the following three things in the first round.

1) They trade up to take Ellis if he is still available, say with the Pats pick.
2) They stay put and pick who they believe is the best CB.
3) They trade down and still pick a CB.

The reason I believe this is mostly around the battle that will take place between the Bungles and the Saints for draft position. Both are rumored to be talking with the Pats and others, in an attempt to move up and get a coveted DT. A number of drafts perdict Ellis falling to Cincy as is. So they will need to move up - if for no other reason then to pertect themselves from the Saints moving up and stealing their pick.

The scenario thats starting to appear is Cincy trading with NE, selecting Ellis, and then the Patriots select LB - Rivers with the 9th pick. Thus the Saints losing out on both their coveted DT and what is arguably the best LB in the draft (the safe pick). Hence leaving New Orleans with the 10th pick and the entire crop of DBs. So the question then - is one DB hands above the rest. It doesn't really appear so as you read player evaluations. So they could just pick there favorite at 10, or trade down and still select one of the DB crop later in the first round, or possibly selecting their next best player at LB or DT.

If the above scenario actually happens, then you might see New Orleans talking with Philly about Lito Shepard. If you going to fill the CB need, you might as well take a proven starter. Of course this decision needs to take into account the money required. Lito = big $, the 3rd CB to get that in recent years - as opposed to signing a rookie (hopefully with potential) to a five year deal, like New England insists on.

The other topic being discussed is TE Shockey. First you can't lose a first round pick for a TE - whether its the 10th pick or a pick later in the first round. Second, I would rather see New Orleans address another need on defense (DB/LB/DT) with their second round pick then to see them get Shockey. I have nothing against Shockey, I just think the need on defense outways the benefit of having a better TE. Plus I don't think the Giants would settle for just a 2nd round pick for Shockey. To costly, and you have less picks to address other needs.

Euphoria

We are not drafting a CB with the 10th pick.

gandhi1007

1st, let me say that there is alot of "smoke & mirrors" going on from the Saints. If they don't trade up to get Dorsey, I look for them to draft Cromartie or trade down. Trading up benefits the Saints in two ways....1st, it gets us the stud DT which we severely need, plus it keeps division rival Atlanta from picking up Dorsey. I think it's all going to depend upon the Rams asking price to move up to #2. I'm beginning to hear that some people in the Saints organization really like Cromartie (CB-Middle Tennessee). He's another character guy with amazing athleticism & considered by most scouts to be very coachable. Either way, I don't look for them to show their hand until draft day.

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BRSaintsFan

Good points. I agree that its if we stay put its the Patriots and Bengals that will determine our pick. The Pats could make a play for McKelvin, Ellis, or Rivers and I would think the Bengals would take whomever is left between Rivers and Ellis. That would leave us with either McKelvin or DRC and I would be fine with either one.

CantonLegend

I cant see all of our top rated players being selected by 10 and everyone knows someone will slip through...it happens every year....now the chances of that being dorsey are not good but ellis and rivers are very possible picks at 10....when the pats take rivers and the bengals take ellis because they wont address their own CB needs...we will be left with whoever is the highest rated CB

Bobaganoosh

I agree 100%. Its either Rivers or an offensive lineman. (Clady or Albert)

hagan714

Once again I am not crazy about any of the players at 10 in this years draft unless you go with the strength of the draft OL. Even then the pick is still to high for everyone of them. At least the risk will be smaller
We are not sitting in a good spot

pakowitz

we arent sitting in a good spot to draft but we are sitting in a good spot to trade down.. there will be quite a few teams i think that will want to move up to 10 or 11 to grab their top lineman b/c they are likely to go fast once the draft gets to that 10 spot

SaintFanInATLHELL

I hope we do not draft a CB at all with the first pick. The numbers don't lie:

ESPN - Raiders will regret spending millions on "average" Hall - NFL

The Saints need to continue to improve their pass rush coupled with the solid rush defense from last year. I truly believe that the acquisition of Vilma will greatly improve the rush defense without having to commit the safeties to the run all the time. We need that impact tackle to push the pocket, take on double teams, and wreak havoc in the middle of the pocket. This will help Smith, McCray, and even Grant to get to the QB without having to blitz.

Everyone keeps making the mistake of believing that the Saints corners cannot cover at all. The truth is that they cannot cover for 10 seconds on an island with a QB who has no pressure. But guess what: NO OTHER CB ON EARTH CAN EITHER! So it's a waste of time trying to find that guy.

Trade up. Get Dorsey or Ellis. That's it. That's all the Saints should do in the first round this year. Even if it means giving up that 2nd (or a 1st next year) for Dorsey or the 3rd this year for Ellis.

Get one of them. It'll make all the difference.

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.