Saints DT's
 

Current Saints DT's under contract...

Sedrick Ellis
Tom Johnson

Anyone think we might wanna schedule a visit or two with a DT?

A decent DT will eat up 3 to 4 million of cap, and we're quickly running out of cash.

We only need one on the side they are running the ball..... we are good. :-)

I think Swanson Miller and Mitch King are under contract. Either way, at the moment we probably have one of the worst group of DTs in the league.

Should Vilma be released, and Lofton or another MLB signed; not sure we'll have the cap space...

And Condon is "advocating what is best for his client" - not sure we'll see an improvement...

I guess it all depends on if the Saints are stripped of their draft picks or at least some of them, because they could be looking at this year's DT draft class and thinking that they'll get two guys from there.

It might be that they just plan on drafting couple of rookie DTs, who'll be thrown straight into the fire under Spags' tutelage, and hope that they'll get the production they need out of them while molding them into what they want.

I mean, it could be a recipe for success or disaster... only time will tell, but at this point in time my belief in Spags' skills to groom and coach up a player are so high that I'd like this idea.

Bring back Franklin and then draft one. I still have plenty of faith in Ellis and I think we should be fine with Franklin, Ellis, and Johnson rotating as our main 3. Jordan should also see more time in the middle on passing downs.

We need another quality DT. I mean a dominant guy who can show up the rest of that group easily. Of course we have to pay someone to do that.....thanks Drew.

Agreed papz. I think Franklin would be willing to sign another 1-2 year deal, and with as deep as this draft class is with DT's we could snag some real quality with our second rounder. Assuming we still have that pick by then of course. :censored: goodell

Founder, President, CEO and sole member of the Scott Shanle fan club

LOL!!

Rather have a good DT or Drew Brees?

I thought so.. :p

I really think that they should fill the DT slots with rookies if at all possible, because next off-season Ellis will be off the books, and if he doesn't have a career year - well, he won't be back for the 2013 season.

Then the Saints would have the cap to sign a dominant FA DT if that is what they need, and the rookie DTs would have a year under their belt - and Spags would have a better understanding of what the front 4 needs in order to become better.

I'd rather see this happening than them spending unnecessary money on a FA DT who ends up producing like f.e. Rogers did this past season.

Franklin with a 1-year contract for $2.5-3M would be nice, but I doubt he'd be willing to sign for that little (and another 1-year deal) at this juncture of his career - I guess it depends on how the FA DT market develops.

I wouldn't mind a 2-3 year deal with Franklin at all. I was more impressed with him than Rogers. He's beef in the middle. We can't run nascar all game long, especially with Deangelo Williams, Michael Turner and Lagerrett Blount twice a year, not to mention we play Matt Forte, and Frank Gore as well.

I'm not disagreeing, and I've been in favor of bringing Franklin back the whole time, but in general I think the "draft & groom" approach sounds so much more attracting - especially when looking at it from the future continuity perspective.

That depends on Goodell and if he lets us keep any decent draft picks this year...

Sorry, I meant to preface it with "I agree".

But I do not want to pin our DT hopes on the draft.

Its a difficult position to master and we'd be foolish to depend on it. We need at least one stopgap vet.

That is true, but I'm relying on my Magic 8-Ball which answered to my question of: "Will the Saints have draft picks in 2012" with: "You may rely on it."


http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/095/...320x480-75.jpg

Yeah, I've met that 8-ball in real life, he's an *******. He probably meant "You may rely on it...It wouldn't be smart, but you are technically allowed to"

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jMd2xEBgjv...20/8ball12.jpg

Cut Ellis sign Franklin back get King in the rotation as a 3rd down pass rusher then draft an early round DT (if we still have the 2nd round pick) and another small school DT in the late rounds.

Use Free Agency (Franklin) to shore up your roster; then let the surprises and youth in the draft come...

Now, will we even have draft picks? Friday came and, well, still quiet...

LB's seems to be the Focus in Free Agency, which means whatever picks we have left will spent on DT's in the draft, you also have the option of moving Cam inside where I think his quickness and ability will begin to show up.

The Saints have played it smart in the past by shoring up their needs in free agency and allowing the best player available to be picked in the draft - this, along with Coach Payton/Drew Brees leadership have been the two biggest reasons for success in New Orleans...

With pending penalties that could affect draft picks as well as the unfinished business of Brees' contract - we may very well be looking at need based picks, if we have any, this season...