TheOak

This thread is for discussing our defense and whether to draft or find Free Agents. All sources cited.

Here are some rough stats from the 2012 draft round (keep in mind a good % of the reason is based on the drafting teams needs)
704 NFL Starters in 2012 (excluding Punters and kickers)
30-35 rookie starters for week 1
2-4 QB that will start their rookie season

A typical year for rookie starters is 3% a bad year is 2%
Rookie starters for 2012? Bengals, Bucs, Jags, Browns will have a few - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy

I cant find a discussion on years it takes the average player to develop into a starter but it seems offensive players tend to start a lot sooner than defensive players.

Scott Shanle - 5th year before he was a starter (actually only the Saints thought he was a starter for more than 8 games) *mind blown*

Troy Polamalu - didn't start until his second year.

Darren Sharper - didn't start until his second year.

Jared Allen - didn't start more than 10 games until his second year.

Ok so on with the discussion. Why is everyone so concerned with what we draft? You draft when your average and want to add a player that makes you good... You don't turn to the draft when your dead last in the league and want to make your team average.... NEXT YEAR.

On offense we draft a Colston/Graham/Thomas and the next season they work out great... We do not want to have to wait until 2014 for a decent defense do we?

I am still very befuddled as to why we did not pick up Julius Peppers when we could have. That is the sort of talent that makes an impact NOW.

2013 DE free agents
2013 NFL Free Agent Tracker

2013 corner-back free agents
2013 NFL Free Agent Tracker

2013 Safety free agents
2013 NFL Free Agent Tracker

2013 Line Backer free agents
2013 NFL Free Agent Tracker

2013 defensive tackle free agents
2013 NFL Free Agent Tracker

Mardigras9

I think the whole draft should be defensively driven.

TheOak

The entire FA should be Defensively driven. These are known products, that can deliver on day one....

Why would you want to draft for someone that probably will not be starter material for an entire season? Look as how well we have drafter defense in the last few years... You want more of that?

With the exception or all star caliber Rookies, you draft projects and trade material. You get the rest from free agency when you are in the position we are in.

Free Agency impact players on Defense: (immediate impact)
Curtis Lofton
Darren Sharper
Johnathan Vilma

Offense:
Drew Brees
Darren Sproles

We need week 1 starters on Defense.

Jamessr

I agree the defense needs major help. The offense as it is blows anyone out if the water! We just need more help from the defense. We figure that out and we get our Coach back we're going to smash people. I hope Sean Payton runs up every score in every game next year.

Utah_Saint

I think fixing this defense will take a combination of Free Agency and the draft. There are so many positions that need talent. Unfortunately, the Saints will be way over the salary cap next year so the odd of bringing in a star through free agency seem pretty slim.

All that being said, they do need some depth (or even a starter) at the tackle position as well. So they can't completely ignore the offense either.

The Saints are gonna be in a tough spot with so many needs and so little money. Mickey's gonna have to pull of some minor miracles this offseason.

Thanks for posting those links. Those are really handy. Looks like there's some big named FA next season.

TheOak

The entire defense needs to go on the wire.

With the exception of maybe 3-4...

Our cap situation is not that bad... 53 means in order to bring someone in... someone has to go and they take their cap hit with them.

FinSaint

Except for the remaining guaranteed money left on their contract, which will count towards the salary cap even after they've gone.

Utah_Saint

I'm not sure how the contrats of Vilma and Smith are counting against the salary cap. With neither counting against the cap, the Saints were 8 million under, but with both counting against the cap, The Saints were about a million under. Where ever that figure is between there, can be applied to next years cap.

BUT

they have lots of contracts that jump up next year. Most notably Drew's 7 million dollar increase, and there's quite a few more...

Brodrick Bunkley ($3 million salary jump)
Marques Colston ($3.3 million salary jump)
Jahri Evans ($6.5 million salary jump)
Jabari Greer ($1 million salary jump)
Ben Grubbs ($4.5 million salary jump)
Malcolm Jenkins ($1.2 million salary jump)
Curtis Lofton (only a 400k salary jump, for another $1 million cap hit in roster bonus)
David Hawthorne (same situation as Lofton, about $1 million extra cap hit in 2013 due to bonuses)
Lance Moore ($1.7 million salary jump)
Will Smith ($8 million salary jump)
Jonathan Vilma ($3 million salary jump)

As it sits right now, the Saints are more than $20 million over the cap for 2013.

Mickey's got his work cut out for him this offseason.

lee909

Draft draft the entire Alabama Defense.

FinSaint

I voted for the "defense will come around..." option purely based on the amusement it invoked inside of me.

BTW, Thomas was an UDFA, so the Saints didn't draft him.