Re: Saints Draft Grade
 

I'm not into blind Patriotism, but I gotta admit when the Cadet from Army was drafted and the crowd got loud...well, that was pretty nice caveat to the 2nd day of the draft, except for the fact it was the Lions who picked...

Re: Saints Draft Grade
 

Missing on Dorsey getting Ellis

Re: Saints Draft Grade
 

It was no secret that the Saints were targeting Dorsey and Ellis.
I did finally exhale when the trade was announced.

That is a lie.

I exhaled when I realized they were truly commited to DEFENSE!

That being said.

I hope that I am an insane, paranoid, deluded fan because I just cannot get this name out of my head right now.........

JONATHAN SULLIVAN

I am gonna send Ellis a chicken's foot to reverse the curse of the
"Heavy Lunch Bunch"!!!!!!

Re: Saints Draft Grade
 

We addressed exactly what we needed in this draft... we get a B+ in my book. Go Saints!

Look I'm sure we make very competitive offer for Dorsey and Shockey but we couldn't land them... but we got a hell of a consolation prize.

Re: Saints Draft Grade
 

The person who graded our draft a D must be a Giants fan....Thumbs up all the way and Drafting the kicker was great move we needed it and who says if he was an UDFA he would've signed with us.

Re: Saints Draft Grade
 

Best moment happened with Vilma. My bestfriend is a Jets fan and called me to tell me we just got there best player. He is still pissed.
Next i rode up and down with the whole dorsey/shockey trade deal. I was excited when we got Ellis but still thought the Shockey deal would go through, though, im not really a Shockey fan.

Then we got Tracy "who the?" Porter and after seeing some video of him, i got really excited. Hes got speed and hands and we havent had that in along time.

Then at the last minute we got Adrian Arrington, who despite some of field BS, has some real potential. Ive seen some video of some awesome grabs he has had and ill be damned if he isnt going to make the cut this year as a #3.

Lots of drama, especially cus i was listening to NFL Radio the whole time and every 10 minutes they were talking about the Saints. FO did a great job making us hopeful after a heartbreaking year.

For that i give the draft an A over all and an A+ counting or predraft trades.

Re: Saints Draft Grade
 

I think its an A because I think they got who they wanted in round 1 with Ellis. All the trading up for Dorsey talk was a smoke screen to position themselves for the player they wanted. Coach O sold the Saints on Ellis long before the pick and I think that was the player they targeted all along. Round 2 was up for grabs as the Shockly trade was likely in play and I like not giving in to the G-men's demands(must have been high) and taking the BPA that fills a critical position that needed addressing.
The Saints needed to improve D and they gave themselves a chance by drafting D players and not TE's or OT with the first two picks. The ulitmate grading will be what impact this years pick have on this years team...

Re: Saints Draft Grade
 

Yes, we drafted defense. BUT only one real impact player probably for the next 2 - 3 years... Again, mostly developmental players IMO that we'll have to wait a few seasons to see if they can contribute. Guess that's what you get with only 2 picks in the first 4 rounds.

Overall, including trading for Vilma in the off season, I think the Saints improved the team and Sedrick Ellis was definitely the one player we needed to get to build a dominate pass rush around.

B

Re: Saints Draft Grade
 

I loved this draft. Smoke screen and mis directions. The saints really did their homework and even though this draft goes down as one of the craziest ever they got the players they wanted.

1. Ellis was the target all along once the FO remembered Haz was on the other end of the phone. No way was he going to let the Rams give the Saints anything.

2. Tracy was always in the top 6 mix and was one of the few on that list that was from a big school. He has played against some of the best WR in country while he was in the big ten conference. He is ready to go out on the island soon.

3. We got the player we wanted by leap frogging Cinnci once again. Go read some of the threads at the Bengals site and you will get a good laugh. More importantly we addressed the lack of youth at the DT position with two very good players.

4. One thing I am very comfortable with is the saints evaluating OL talent. we filled the one thing we did not have and that was a player that can play OG or OT.

5. Kicker? Well after 2 years of carrying two kickers we look to open up a roster spot by carrying just one. sorry the pick was needed. When we go on the road in December and play in the snow you will really love this pick.

6. WR? another nice pick. I would have never thought Adrian would have lasted this long in the draft. We have two good WR, a #1 that has yet to hit the field and well a group of so-so's leftovers. He should make the squad and send one of the so-so packing. It is the so-so you are suppose to upgrade. Well worth the risk and it also kept the Bucs from picking him. I know the saints war room loved that. That alone was worth the 6th

Overall I am going with A for this draft. Lets not forget we added Vilma in this draft for a 4th. I know the price should go up next year but till then it is an A grade.

Re: Saints Draft Grade
 

A-

I feel very good overall about the choices made, and the cost we spent to get them. I'm very happy with this draft. That being said, the only negatives I can think of (and this is just nitpicking, why A+ turned into A-) are:

1) We offered too much for Dorsey - thank God KC didn't take us up on that offer

2) We didn't grab a center. The center issue could come back to haunt us if our starter goes down, and there was some great value still on the board in the 6th round.

3) I'm still trying to understand the Pressley pick. I figured Ellis would replace Bryan Young, but once Pressley was drafted, that no longer made sense. I suspect Ahtyba Rubin might've been a better pick for our second tackle, which wouldn't have required the trade of our 7th rounder.

But again, I'm very happy with this draft. Very happy indeed. This is the best I've ever felt after a New Orleans draft.