New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Head Coach Sean Payton Looks At The Draft

New Orleans Saints - Head Coach Sean Payton Looks At The Draft

Q: At the end of last season, five of your draft class were on the roster but Usama Young was really the only who that saw a lot of playing time. Do you almost see yourselves as having two draft classes this year?

“We have some young players. Of course, Robert Meachem is a guy that has had a lot written about him. I’m excited about where he’s at from a health standpoint; he’s progressed tremendously. You don’t see the knee being an issue at all. We’re going to find out a lot about him this coming spring and fall. Jermon Bushrod is another guy that we’re really excited about. He’s a young lineman that went through that first year. He’s healthy and he’s been doing a great job with the offseason program. The timeframe on when they play is sometimes something that they can’t control, but again, I think a couple of years from now we’re going to be able to look back and say if these were good selections or they weren’t, and I like the guys that we have. I think Usama Young is going to be a guy that competes for playing time this year; just as he played last year, I think he’ll compete for more playing time. Again, we’re trying to get younger and improve the roster, and that being said, still be mindful of the chemistry that we have in that locker room and what we think gives us the best chance to win and win in this upcoming season.”