Stay the course, draft your guy.
 

Top teams in the draft will be looking to get back into the first round to get that qb near the end of the first ala Cleveland a few years ago. I really think its important we stay the course, and draft the guy that is on the board whoever that is. My money is on Akeem Ayers. This draft is linebacker light, and with Justin Houston getting pop for mary jane, and his tweener role that is one less guy to choose from. Go Ayers, first maybe try to jump back in if you think you can take a crack at RB Ryan Williams and finish the day off with a DE off the boards in this Heavy DE class.

Please not Casey Matthews. Maybe in the 7th.

He's small AND slow. If his last name wasn't Matthews no one would even be mentioning him.

H'e one of the slowest LB's in the draft at a 4.79. He looks to be a pure ILB in a 3-4.

Where would we play him? He's kinda small to play the SAM, and kinda slow to play WLB, and I doubt he sees the field as a MLB.

If we ran a 3-4 I could get behind him, maybe with our 3rd round pick. I just don't see him as a good fit in a base 4-3 OLB at all.

I think there are much better options. It will be interesting to see where he lands. I'd support him 100% if we picked him, i just don't think he's a wise choice in the 2nd or 3rd round.

He certainly is a Payton type player though, and some players do play a lot faster than they time (Ray Lewis ran a 4.81).

The shoulder injury is also a huge red flag.

definitly football family history
" " " " heart
" " a tad slow but see post above
" " 3rd rd pick or higher imo

It will be fun.

I really like the idea of drafting Ayers at 24. He is an athletic LB who is also a good blitzer and can also drop into coverage. He is the best LB in a weak LB class and I feel like he fits Williams scheme and philosophy.

You could look at a Dontay Moch in round 2. He will probably eventually develop into a OLB but would be a great pass rush specialist and superb special teams player early in his career. Gregg Williams would have a fantastic toy to play with in his blitz packages.

3rd round you can look at DTs Jurrell Casey from USC, versatile Christian Ballard from Iowa (did fail the drug test), Jarvis Jenkins from Clemson. Also RBs Daniel Thomas from Kansas St, Shane Vereen from Cal, Delone Carter.

I am really a supporter of drafting BPA, I don't believe in drafting need unless it is there at the right time. I just don't know how you can go wrong adding the most talent possible, just my opinion

BPA may not improve your chances of winning games. Having three AAA+ tightends is somewhat useless. Improving weaker performing areas is key to building championship teams. BPA has its limits.

The BPA approach that teams used isnt a pure best player available. Teams structure their draft board around players they would actually draft. So if the top rated QB falls to 24 and is the best player available in the draft, its safe to say that he does not factor into the best player available discussion based on the Saints draft board. The more successful teams year in and year out draft the best player available that fits their philosophies. That is a more descriptive of the BPA approach used in the draft.

You are right in saying that drafting BPA may not help (See Lions with WRs under Millen's tenure). But I don't feel that Saints are that stockpiled with talent at any position that drafting a player at that same spot would result in an overload. WR/TE may be the exceptions. But with Shockey no longer in the plans and with both Thomas and Graham missing time last year with injuries I no longer feel that the position is as solid as it should be. Same thing with Henderson's regressions last year.

Saints current management has shown that they know what their needs are, and will pull the trigger on the best of class based on their evaluations. I just want to see solid contributors that help us play better football week in and week out. Improve our pass rush and run stop. Get our run avg up to 110-130 and take some pressure off of Brees.