SmashMouth

New Orleans Saints
First pick: Round 1, No. 15 overall

The Safe Route: Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

The Saints have the pieces in place to unleash a fairly potent 3-4 rush, starting with Junior Galette and free-agent addition Victor Butler. Mingo could join that mix (which also includes Jonathan Vilma) as a pass-rushing hammer.

Mingo suffers through some shaky moments on tape, especially against the run. Given the opportunity to pin his ears back and get after the quarterback, though, he might be as dangerous as any defensive player in this draft.

New Orleans must continue to add disruptive elements to its D. Mingo, whose time at LSU would make him an immediate fan favorite, fits the bill.

The Surprise: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

The NFC South’s draft approach will be fascinating, with the Bucs, Panthers and Saints picking 13-14-15, in that order. And just as Patterson would have to be a consideration for Carolina at 14, so too would the Saints have to give the Tennessee receiver a second look should he drop this far.

For as much as New Orleans should try to improve its defense, this is a team that goes as Drew Brees and the offense does. That offense could use another big-play threat alongside Marques Colston and Lance Moore, someone to free up even more space for tight end Jimmy Graham. No other Saints receiver had more than 22 catches last season and that player, Devery Henderson, currently sits an unrestricted free agent.

This would be more a luxury pick than a need-filler, but Patterson could also elevate the Saints’ passing attack.

Entire Column Here