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One by one, NFL draft experts say the same thing when asked about the pressing need for the New Orleans Saints entering April's draft. And NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock followed suit Monday saying the Saints will focus on defense with the 15th overall pick.


NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said former LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo could be the explosive pass rusher the New Orleans Saints are looking for in the NFL draft.
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
He specifically pointed to outside linebacker as the Saints make the move to a 3-4 defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

"I think a 3-4 outside linebacker, an edge guy makes a ton of sense for them," Mayock said. "And a guy like (Oregon's) Dion Jordan could be there. Your guy, (LSU's Barkevious) Mingo, could be there. Jamie Collins in the second round. I think they need a 3-4 explosive outside linebacker, and there is no doubt about that. They've got to get some pressure on the quarterback. ... There are a lot of needs at 15 for them, and I think the five technique they can get in the second or third round as they can with the nose."

As for Mingo, the jury still seems to be out on him and Mayock continued the trend. Many draft pundits considered Mingo a slam-dunk top-10 pick at one point. Mayock doesn't feel that's the case right now.

"He's 230 pounds. He's got a little stiffness to him," Mayock said. "He obviously runs very fast. When the ball goes away from him, he's fantastic. He's a run-and-chase linebacker. He's got upside as a pass rusher. There is nothing about the kid I don't like. I just don't see a top 10 guy today.

"To me I'd feel much more comfortable with him as a developmental 3-4 outside linebacker, somebody that would go somewhere between 25 and 40. I know everybody's got him in the top 10, but I just don't see it right now."

Mayock did rave about BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, but said there's no guarantee Ansah can become a star player even though his skill set may point to stardom. CBSSports.com's Rob Rang has the Saints selecting Ansah with their first-round pick in Rang's latest mock draft.

"I couldn't wait to see him at the Senior Bowl," Mayock said. "I thought he had an average week of practice, and in the one-on-one pass rushing drills, defense should dominate and he didn't dominate. He was a guy that was so long, so athletic, so gifted. I just think he's so raw sometime it can't come out. I don't think there is anybody on the in the NFL that doesn't think he's going to be a good player. But the question is when? Is it this year, next year or three years from now?

"And really what you're determining and building the answer of that question is going to determine what you think the value of the kid is. How quickly can he become a really good player? Can he be Aldon Smith this year? Because he's got those kind of skills. It just has to come out of him.

"Now can he play 3-4 outside linebacker? He's so gifted, some teams are looking at him as a 3-4 outside linebacker while other teams are saying with that frame, he could be 290 (pounds) and be a 3-4 defensive end. So it's kind of interesting. Teams are looking at him a 4-3 end, a 3-4 outside linebacker, and a 3-4 end. You can't say that about many kids and it goes to his unbelievable athletic ability and huge frame.

"I'm willing to bet on the kid. I think he's going to go earlier than later. When you get these kind of guys, and (Jason Pierre-Paul), he's way more raw than JPP was a couple years ago. People want to use that comparison, but he's not there yet. But I think he's going to become a good player."

Mayock said he didn't see Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner or Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore as top-10 players even though they might be drafted there. Mayock did point to LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery as a late first-round pick, possibly to Atlanta at No. 30.



"Barkevious Mingo gets a lot more of the attention, but I feel like Sam Montgomery brings it every snap more than Mingo does," Mayock said. "He's not as quick, he's not as gifted, but he's very physical and tough."

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