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No way miller drops to the Saints, one of the draft stooges had him like top 10 I think

Wilkerson, Kerrigan, or Watt will be there; Bailey seems to be a bit too much of a risk for a R1 pick...

We've actually got a really good columnist in Yasinskas covering the Saints and NFC South for ESPN

From ESPN.com...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeanpierre (Post 287317)

Draft needs: New Orleans Saints

By Pat Yasinskas

The New Orleans Saints are up as we continue our series of team-by-team draft needs.

1. Defensive end. The Saints let Charles Grant go last season and Alex Brown and Jimmy Wilkerson were adequate. But neither of them give the Saints anything special. The Saints need another pass rusher to go with Will Smith. The Gregg Williams defense is at its best when it can force other teams into turnovers.

2. Outside linebacker. The Saints let Scott Fujita go in free agency last year and it didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. But several guys who were in contention to take over for Fujita got hurt and the position never really got filled. The Saints could use a speedy playmaker to put next to middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

3. Running back. A lot of New Orleans fans don’t seem willing to believe it, but Pierre Thomas almost certainly will be allowed to walk as a free agent. He fell into the doghouse when his ankle injury was slow to heal last season. Chris Ivory did a nice job filling in when Thomas and Reggie Bush were out. But the Saints need consistency at this position and that means adding a running back who can handle a good chunk of carries to go with Bush and Ivory.

4. Defensive tackle. Sedrick Ellis has developed into a solid player, but the Saints don’t have much in the middle beside him. It’s time to upgrade the talent level here.

5. Offensive tackle. I know the Saints drafted Charles Brown last year. But, if he's not ready to start, I'm not sure this offense can endure another year of Jermon Bushrod at left tackle.

For a look at New Orleans’ needs through another set of eyes, check out our friends at HoopDat.

JP's Saints Mock Draft (In some cases, wish list):

R1/24 Muhammad Wilkerson, DT - Temple (HT: 6-5 - WT: 305)

Athletic Big Man who would be a natural DE in a 3-4 alignment; but with his athletic ability could be a freak at the 3-technique positon; moving up draft boards into the first round now...

Alternate Picks: Cam Heyward DL, Stephen Paea DT

R2/56 Ryan Williams, RB - Virginia Tech (HT: 5-10⅝ - WT: 209)

Only a two year player, very fast with a good vertical leap; has an extra gear; great frame to build; lacks pass protection experience; numbers down sophomore campaign due to hamstring...

Alternate Picks: Robert Sands S, Bruce Carter OLB

R3/72 Mason Foster, WLB - Washington (HT: 6-1⅛ - WT: 241)

Marginal measurables, but his film tells a different story; he can bring the wood; John Madden/Mike Ditka type of player, old school; Durable and productive; Team Player...

Alternate Picks: Jarvis Jenkins DT, Jeremy Beal OLB

R3/88 Quinton Carter, S - Oklahoma (HT: 6-0⅝ - WT: 211)

Go to Roman Harper's Wikipedia page and you'll see 'em swinging a golf club; picking Carter would help 'em stay there; he has excellent coverage skills at S: Fluid, Good Angles, Smart and has excellent community track record; not sure he's be there this late but would be a steal at this slot ...

Alternate Picks: Casey Matthews LB, Joseph Barksdale OT

R7/215 Willie Smith, T - East Carolina (HT: 6-5 - WT: 310)

Good Size, Range; key component to helping his school set new performance records on offense; unofficial stat of 40+ knockdowns (i.e. pancakes, slammers) while playing in Conference USA; former Tight End whose made transition to Left Tackle, so he could fit in with Coach Payton's player eligible play calling; could look to replenish depth should Bushrod or Strief depart...

Alternate Picks: Alex Henery K, Kenrick Ellis DT

Note: We should start setting up the annual Round 1 Mock Draft where different members pick for each franchise that is picking (NE gets two for the Seymore Trade)...

Ingram in the 1st. Dontay Moch in the 2nd. Curtis Brown in the 3rd. After that, we go O-line.

Speedy, edge-rusher please.

Arizona DE Brooks Reed's 1.54 ten-yard split at the Scouting Combine was by far the fastest recorded by pass rushers in Indianapolis.

To put this in even greater perspective, Reed cleared ten yards quicker than A.J. Green, Jerrel Jernigan, Von Miller, and Randall Cobb. Reed's ten-yard split is Clay Matthews-like, which is ironic as the two are commonly compared. At 6-foot-3 and 263 pounds, Reed projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the league and has emerged as a sleeper for the first round.

Source: CBS Sports Mar 4, 2:17 PM

Brooks Reed*|*Arizona,*OLB*:*2011 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

Brooks Reed, Arizona, NFL Draft - DraftCountdown.com

This guy looks quite interesting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by papz (Post 287956)

Papz, I like the guy's ability, but is he a small defensive end for our 4-3 set?

We've got investment in guys like Jonathan Vilma, Sedrick Ellis, Will Smith who or 4-3 guys; so do we start going the other way to a 3-4?

Plus I want my R1, R2 and early R3 starting within a year of being drafted; would he just be a situational pass rusher?

Personally, I like the 3-4 defense; then again, I was a teenager/early adult when we had the greatest linebacking corps of all time...time...time

As time goes by, I keep favoring Heyward more and more. I just think he is the one I hope we pick. Nothing to do with Craig playing here. I just feel he will be the best for us on the D Line.

The way the Saints have handled the offseason, its clear they are going either DE or OLB. They are apparently content with the runningback core(I know we had a bad year last year at the position, but we have some quality talent there when they are healthy). Shaun Rogers works as sort of a place holder, making us able to not spend as much time worrying about the DT position and hold off worrying about that until a later draft.

They'll probably end up shocking the hell out of me and drafting another cornerback though :D.