Saints trade 5th for CB

rAge · 04-08-2004, 05:40 PM

I hope you guys who like this move are loving Craft in September when Gash\'s old body can\'t handle the beating and Deuce is running for 65 yards a game instead of 125.

Our FB\'s only play in like 30% of the plays. Sure, they help Deuce but not enough to say he will only be getting 65yds a game. Gash will be fine. We could always trade something for a 4th rounder this year and draft a FB anyway, it\'s not the end of the world.

WhoDat · 04-08-2004, 05:45 PM

No it\'s not the end of the world. But it\'s not a smart move either from where I\'m sitting, right now in April. Maybe it will be in September, but I don\'t like it now.

Danno · 04-08-2004, 05:49 PM

Saints trade fifth round pick for Jaguars CB

10:56 AM CDT on Thursday, April 8, 2004

WWLTV.com

The New Orleans Saints have shipped off one of their 2004 draft picks in an effort to bolster a much-maligned secondary.

According to General Manager Mickey Loomis, the team trading their fifth round selection for Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jason Craft.

Craft, 5-10, 179 lbs., is a fifth-year veteran who was chosen in the fifth-round out of Colorado State.

According to Eyewitness Sports Lee Zurik, Craft will definitely provide depth and could possibly become a starter.

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã…Â“HeÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã¢Â„Â¢s young, productive and played a lot in his first four years,ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬? said Zurik. ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã…Â“(Jaguars Head Coach Jack) Del Rio is getting rid of (Ex-coach Tom) Coughlin\'s guys, like most coaches do, but this guy is quality.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬?

Zurik said Craft could have been a cap casualty in June, but talk around the league is that he would have been quickly scooped up.

Craft played in 71 games, starting 33, with seven career interceptions and 23 passes defensed.

ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã…Â“Jason was a guy that we targeted when he was a restricted free agent in 2002. The Jaguars matched the offer and Jason became a productive starter for them after that,ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬? said Loomis. ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã…Â“The Jaguars signed three cornerbacks this off season and we felt we could get a quality, seasoned cornerback with this trade.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬?

The Saints now hold one pick in the first round, two picks in the second round, one pick each in the third, sixth and seventh rounds. The Saints were also recently awarded an additional compensatory pick in the seventh round.

Not sure what Gash has to do with bringing in a CB who right now would be our 2nd best CB on the roster, and costing us what a scrub would.
Nobody\'s claiming he\'s the next Charles Woodson, but he\'s already better than Brown and Craver.
The difference between a 5th round FB and a 6th round FB is pretty minimal. If thats the angle your taking.

WhoDat · 04-08-2004, 05:56 PM

Good point Danno, and well taken. I should be happy about a young experienced guy over a 5th round draft pick. You\'re right. Something about this just feels a lot like Ruff, so I\'m hesitant. I dunno. I\'ll be hopeful I guess. Maybe this guy can be a good nickel option with Thomas and whomever we draft being one and two. Then Ambrose will be a good dime guy. Not bad I guess. I\'ll be happy about it.

D_it_up · 04-08-2004, 06:11 PM

I have a strong feeling that Craft could definitely start this year. IMO he\'s the 2nd best CB on the roster now, even though he has only started less than half of his games. If the Saints don\'t go corner in the draft, look for him to start over Ambrose, Brown, and Craver. I just hope his knee is completely healthy and hasn\'t lost any speed or much mobility.

DatFu · 04-08-2004, 06:54 PM

Ehhh, a 5th rounder seems like a bit much.

right on

Euphoria · 04-08-2004, 06:56 PM

I think this was a a solid pick up... you can still find players in the 5th round but hard to do... Good move. This guy can play, coming off an injury so he\'s been in rehap and in better shape and ready to go. We have over a year to find a FB. We have Gash and maybe can rotate a TE at FB if need be. Gash will give us at least a year or two if need be.

turbo_dog · 04-08-2004, 11:32 PM

Good point Danno, and well taken. I should be happy about a young experienced guy over a 5th round draft pick. You\'re right. Something about this just feels a lot like Ruff, so I\'m hesitant. I dunno. I\'ll be hopeful I guess. Maybe this guy can be a good nickel option with Thomas and whomever we draft being one and two. Then Ambrose will be a good dime guy. Not bad I guess. I\'ll be happy about it.

I think Ruff was brought in as \"the man\" in the middle though, wasn\'t he? I hated that one too. At least this time Craft isn\'t being heralded as the answer.

Danno · 04-09-2004, 08:02 AM

Thats the rub.
Some may think we signed him as the answer at CB. And if we did, then yes BAD move. But I\'m sure our front office didn\'t sign this guy as the answer, just a solid contributor. We could actually use another one just like him since Carter is gone (for now) and Keyou has decided he doesn\'t want to take his job seriously.

I think every GREAT secondary needs an A player (cough*Woodson*cough) and about 3 B players behind him, then a few C players that may develop into a B or even A player.

Craft is a B player. Thomas is a B-plus player, Ambrose is a B-minus.

Woodson, Hall/Robinson/Gamble will probably become our A CB.

I think if Will Smith slips, I\'d consider taking him and trading Howard for Woodson, straight up. We\'d be awfully young up front, but I think Woodson would help us more than the loss of Howard would hurt us.

[Edited on 9/4/2004 by Danno]

frankeefrank · 04-10-2004, 12:02 AM

I consider it a great move... Craft is a splitting image to Fred Thomas. A corner who came into his own under the Has system. That can\';t be said abotu a lot of players.
And from where I\'m looking, Craft was on his way to maybe his best season last year before he got hurt.
The only drawback I foresee is that like every other free agent it will tke him about 7 games to get acclimated.

what this really tells me is the Saints are eyeing one of the receivers...
And will select the best CB, and LB inthe 2nd round.

04-08-2004, 05:40 PM	#21
rAge 100th Post Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 320	Saints trade 5th for CB I hope you guys who like this move are loving Craft in September when Gash\'s old body can\'t handle the beating and Deuce is running for 65 yards a game instead of 125. Our FB\'s only play in like 30% of the plays. Sure, they help Deuce but not enough to say he will only be getting 65yds a game. Gash will be fine. We could always trade something for a 4th rounder this year and draft a FB anyway, it\'s not the end of the world.
rAge 100th Post Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 320

04-08-2004, 05:45 PM	#22
WhoDat 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,631	Saints trade 5th for CB No it\'s not the end of the world. But it\'s not a smart move either from where I\'m sitting, right now in April. Maybe it will be in September, but I don\'t like it now.
WhoDat 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,631

04-08-2004, 05:49 PM	#23
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,723	Saints trade 5th for CB Saints trade fifth round pick for Jaguars CB 10:56 AM CDT on Thursday, April 8, 2004 WWLTV.com The New Orleans Saints have shipped off one of their 2004 draft picks in an effort to bolster a much-maligned secondary. According to General Manager Mickey Loomis, the team trading their fifth round selection for Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jason Craft. Craft, 5-10, 179 lbs., is a fifth-year veteran who was chosen in the fifth-round out of Colorado State. According to Eyewitness Sports Lee Zurik, Craft will definitely provide depth and could possibly become a starter. ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã…Â“HeÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã¢Â„Â¢s young, productive and played a lot in his first four years,ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬? said Zurik. ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã…Â“(Jaguars Head Coach Jack) Del Rio is getting rid of (Ex-coach Tom) Coughlin\'s guys, like most coaches do, but this guy is quality.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬? Zurik said Craft could have been a cap casualty in June, but talk around the league is that he would have been quickly scooped up. Craft played in 71 games, starting 33, with seven career interceptions and 23 passes defensed. ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã…Â“Jason was a guy that we targeted when he was a restricted free agent in 2002. The Jaguars matched the offer and Jason became a productive starter for them after that,ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬? said Loomis. ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬Ã…Â“The Jaguars signed three cornerbacks this off season and we felt we could get a quality, seasoned cornerback with this trade.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢Â‚Â¬? The Saints now hold one pick in the first round, two picks in the second round, one pick each in the third, sixth and seventh rounds. The Saints were also recently awarded an additional compensatory pick in the seventh round. Not sure what Gash has to do with bringing in a CB who right now would be our 2nd best CB on the roster, and costing us what a scrub would. Nobody\'s claiming he\'s the next Charles Woodson, but he\'s already better than Brown and Craver. The difference between a 5th round FB and a 6th round FB is pretty minimal. If thats the angle your taking.

04-08-2004, 05:56 PM	#24
WhoDat 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,631	Saints trade 5th for CB Good point Danno, and well taken. I should be happy about a young experienced guy over a 5th round draft pick. You\'re right. Something about this just feels a lot like Ruff, so I\'m hesitant. I dunno. I\'ll be hopeful I guess. Maybe this guy can be a good nickel option with Thomas and whomever we draft being one and two. Then Ambrose will be a good dime guy. Not bad I guess. I\'ll be happy about it.
WhoDat 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,631

04-08-2004, 06:11 PM	#25
D_it_up Faqda Falcons Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ruston, Louisiana Posts: 3,465 Blog Entries: 3	Saints trade 5th for CB I have a strong feeling that Craft could definitely start this year. IMO he\'s the 2nd best CB on the roster now, even though he has only started less than half of his games. If the Saints don\'t go corner in the draft, look for him to start over Ambrose, Brown, and Craver. I just hope his knee is completely healthy and hasn\'t lost any speed or much mobility.

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04-08-2004, 06:54 PM	#26
DatFu Registered Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 57	Saints trade 5th for CB Ehhh, a 5th rounder seems like a bit much. right on
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04-08-2004, 06:56 PM	#27
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	Saints trade 5th for CB I think this was a a solid pick up... you can still find players in the 5th round but hard to do... Good move. This guy can play, coming off an injury so he\'s been in rehap and in better shape and ready to go. We have over a year to find a FB. We have Gash and maybe can rotate a TE at FB if need be. Gash will give us at least a year or two if need be.

04-08-2004, 11:32 PM	#28
turbo_dog 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,592	Saints trade 5th for CB Good point Danno, and well taken. I should be happy about a young experienced guy over a 5th round draft pick. You\'re right. Something about this just feels a lot like Ruff, so I\'m hesitant. I dunno. I\'ll be hopeful I guess. Maybe this guy can be a good nickel option with Thomas and whomever we draft being one and two. Then Ambrose will be a good dime guy. Not bad I guess. I\'ll be happy about it. I think Ruff was brought in as \"the man\" in the middle though, wasn\'t he? I hated that one too. At least this time Craft isn\'t being heralded as the answer.

04-09-2004, 08:02 AM	#29
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,723	Saints trade 5th for CB Thats the rub. Some may think we signed him as the answer at CB. And if we did, then yes BAD move. But I\'m sure our front office didn\'t sign this guy as the answer, just a solid contributor. We could actually use another one just like him since Carter is gone (for now) and Keyou has decided he doesn\'t want to take his job seriously. I think every GREAT secondary needs an A player (coughWoodsoncough) and about 3 B players behind him, then a few C players that may develop into a B or even A player. Craft is a B player. Thomas is a B-plus player, Ambrose is a B-minus. Woodson, Hall/Robinson/Gamble will probably become our A CB. I think if Will Smith slips, I\'d consider taking him and trading Howard for Woodson, straight up. We\'d be awfully young up front, but I think Woodson would help us more than the loss of Howard would hurt us. [Edited on 9/4/2004 by Danno]

04-10-2004, 12:02 AM	#30
frankeefrank 500th Post Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 775	Saints trade 5th for CB I consider it a great move... Craft is a splitting image to Fred Thomas. A corner who came into his own under the Has system. That can\';t be said abotu a lot of players. And from where I\'m looking, Craft was on his way to maybe his best season last year before he got hurt. The only drawback I foresee is that like every other free agent it will tke him about 7 games to get acclimated. what this really tells me is the Saints are eyeing one of the receivers... And will select the best CB, and LB inthe 2nd round.
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