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The New Orleans Saints’ top needs are defensive line and linebacker, and 2010 marks a very deep draft at defensive line.

But the big men up front on defense will get picked off fast in round one.

Defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Gerard McCoy will come off the board in the top 3 of this draft.

Defensive ends Derrick Morgan of Georgia Tech, Jason Pierre-Paul of South Florida and Brandon Graham of Michigan, will all be gone for the Saints select at number 32.

Carlos Dunlap, a defensive end from Florida, Everson Griffen, defensive end out of USC and Sergio Kindle, a defensive end /linebacker from Texas will also probably not make it to the end of the round.

Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, the Saints selection on many mock drafts, will probably be picked in the 20’s.

So who is left if they take the top player on their board and also try to fill a need?

There is a chance for three defensive lineman to make it to #32. Jared Odrick (DT-DE Penn State) would be a fine selection if he slides down to New Orleans. He is a versatile lineman who can project to both defensive tackle and defensive end.

Odrick has a non-stop motor, plays hard the whole game and has the height and long arms scouts like. He plays as a one gap penetrating tackle who can rush the passer from the inside but will chase and pursue.

Other linemen who have a chance to slide to 32 are Jerry Hughes, a defensive end/linebacker hybrid. He is a 260 pound prospect from TCU. A good pass rusher off the edge, Hughes has a burst to the quarterback. He works hard in the weight room, has very strong legs and can squat 700 pounds. Hughes should excel on special teams as well.

Brian Price, another defensive tackle, has a chance to get to #32. At 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds from UCLA, he is strong and powerful who will break into the opponent’s backfield and cause problems.

Price is a quick and agile big man who is a junior coming out early but has been productive against good college competition since his freshman season. He plays with a low center of gravity. He needs to stay in better condition though since he seems to get tired and lose stamina late in the game.

If all these linemen are gone, a linebacker like Daryl Washington (6-2, 225 from TCU) is projected to go at the end of round 1 or early in round 2. He is one of the better pass coverage linebackers in this draft.

Ricky Sapp (6-3 ½ 243 out of Clemson) is another outside linebacker with fine pass rush ability.

Sapp played defensive end in college but may move to linebacker since he is athletic enough to drop into pass coverage as well.

Potential 1st round picks for World Champion New Orleans Saints

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