jeanpierre

My Wish List for the Saints [Updated 20 JAN 2014]...

R1 CB Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State, 6-0/200

R2 DB Deonne Bucannon, Washington State, 6-1/215

R3 OT Morgan Moses, Virginia, 6-6/325

R4 LB Jerimiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech, 6-3/242

R5 G Brandon Thomas, Clemson, 6-3/315

R6 RB DeAnthony Thomas, Oregon, 5-9/170

R7 (TRADED for Parys Haralson to 49ers for 2014 conditional seventh round pick)

papz

Not that he deserves to, but DeAnthony Thomas will get drafted much higher than that. Would be an interesting toy for Payton.

lee909

He needs to put on 15-20lb of muscle for the pro's I reckon.He would get hammered by LBs otherwise

jeanpierre

With that speed, I would agree; most of the scouting services I've read though have him rated in that round or lower because of his size...

And he'd be comparable to Sproles; would like to take RB Raijon Neal, Tennessee there, but with Thomas being rated there, I'd take that speed and reload for Sproles who's 30+...

halloween 65

I really don't see us taking a RB. but if we did I would prefer a sledge-hammer type of back over a Sproles type. I would love for Payton to beef up the O-line and go ground and pound over all the things that are not working now days. Teams have caught up to a lot of our stuff, to much if you ask me.

jeanpierre

Here's is why I think we'll take a running back in the draft...

First, Pierre Thomas will be 30 yrs of age before end of upcoming season...

Second, Darren Sproles will be 31 yrs of age before upcoming season...

Third, Mark Ingram has one year left on his rookie contract...

Fourth Khiry Robinson is a great, complementary back...

Fifth, Travaris Cadet has been left off active gameday roster several times this pass season...

With all the talk of speed, we need to start with some youth this season to challenge Cadet, take a season to learn under above that way we won't be without a cache of solid running backs that we've enjoyed lately...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

halloween 65

I get what your saying but we need a sledge-hammer that can close tight games out. I would like to see another Duece 2 with Robinson and Ingram if we don't keep PT, all this speed is fine to a point but when you can run late in the game and get 1st downs to close out games I would feel a lot better. To me it's great when a team knows your going to run and can't do nothing about it.

jeanpierre

Thought we pounded it pretty good with Ingram, Robinson when we committed to the run...

Sproles, who's been awesome for us, was ineffective late in the season probably due to his age, 30+, and that "lower leg" injury midway through the season...

Having a fast back to start learning now and then replace Ingram with a banger if he's unable to be signed next season...

lee909

Just looking at some early mocks

SB nation goes with
**
Kony Ealy Missouri
DE/OLB
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 275.*
Projected 40 Time: 4.85.*
Projected Round (2014): 1-2.*

1/11/14:*Ealy was an impact pass-rusher on the other side of the field from Michael Sam in 2013. Ealy has an impressive combination of size and speed. He was tough at the point of attack on run downs and showed his pass rushing prowess off the edge throughout 2013. Ealy looks like a natural 4-3 defensive end who can stay on the field for all three downs.*

Ealy had a three-sack game against Kentucky and generally puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback. While the Missouri defense was lit up by Auburn, Ealy showed up big with two forced fumbles, three tackles for a loss, one sack and five tackles. From start to finish in the Cotton Bowl, the junior ended his college career with a big-time presence against Oklahoma State. Ealy had two sacks, six tackles and a pass batted. He recorded 9.5 sacks, 43 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, six passes broken up and an interception for the year.*

8/12/13:*Ealy contributed a decent 2012 season with 37 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, seven passes batted and a forced fumble. However, the sophomore had Sheldon Richardson causing a lot of disruption on the line. Missouri needs Ealy to step up and produce more as a junior now that Richardson is in the NFL.*

The thought of pairing Ealy with Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is too intriguing to pass up. Ealy is an extraordinary athlete who should be able to line up at end and outside linebacker, regardless of the formation




Mel Kiper

*
Antonio 'Tiny' Richardson
Tennesse OT

Height: 6-6.
Weight: 332.*
Projected 40 Time: 5.31.*
Projected Round (2014): 1-2.*

1/6/14:*Tennessee failed to qualify for a bowl game, but Richardson had a good junior season. Sources have told WalterFootball.com that Richardson looks like a first-round pick. He decided to skip his senior year and enter 2014 NFL Draft.*

Richardson's schedule this year was tough, but he generally did well. Richardson played well against Missouri's speed-rushers and did a great job of getting depth in his drop to negate their rushes. Richardson also stonewalled bull rushes. The only Missouri rusher who was able to get some pressure going against him was Ealy. He worked himself free of Richardson on a few occasions, but never quickly enough to get a hit on the quarterback or a sack. Even on Richardson's underwhelming plays, he got enough of his rushers to give his quarterback a reasonable amount of time to throw the ball.*

Against Alabama, Richardson played well overall. He did well in pass protection and wasn't beat for any sacks. Richardson was jacked up for another shot at Jadeveon Clowney. In the beginning of the game, Clowney made some plays against him in run defense, but Richardson settled down and played well. He kept Clowney from recording a sack and did well in pass protection.*

Richardson played well against Georgia aside from a couple of bad plays. He was pushed into the pocket and almost beaten for a sack in the second quarter. Richardson was then beaten in third quarter by Ray Drew for a sack with a rush to the inside. Drew gained leverage on Richardson and the tackle was unable to recover. After those hiccups, he was generally sound against Georgia. Richardson had some well-executed assignments on some clutch second-half throws made by Volunteers quarterback Justin Worley.*

Early in the season, Richardson had his worst game of the past two years in a loss to Florida. He was beaten by Dante Fowler for a strip-sack and had issues in the first half with the Gators' defensive linemen. Richardson played better in the second half.*

8/9/13:*Entering the 2012 season, Dallas Thomas was a quality tackle prospect, but Richardson's talent prompted Tennessee to move Thomas inside to guard. Richardson was excellent at protecting Tyler Bray's blind side last year. The Volunteers did a great job in pass protection with Richardson leading the way, allowing only eight sacks. He was a Second-Team All-SEC selection.*

Richardson also held his own going against South Carolina superstar Jadeveon Clowney. Richardson has size to go with some athleticism. It wouldn't surprise me to see his stock rise during his junior year. He moves really well for his size and was even used some as a fullback as a freshman in 2011.*

The junior faces a challenging schedule with good pass-rushers throughout this comign season. He rematches with Clowney midway through the year. If Richardson has a dominant 2013, he could rise into the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.*




Both sounds like good prospects.

Richardson sounds like he can recover for a poor start to a game and get into the seing of the game which shows a good mental capacity to keep improving and not let pressure mount on himself. It would be nice to have a pair of tackles on rookie deals fore the foreseeable future with the cost of a above average T on the open market so high

"Two receivers to the left, Garcon to the right. Manning in the shotgun, puts Collie in motion. Looks in his direction...it's picked off! It's picked off! It's Tracy Porter again! He's runnin' free! He's gonna go all the way!

jeanpierre

The OT Richardson from Univ of Tennessee intrigues me...

Seen him mocked in the first round, mostly in the mid-late second round...

He's faced tremendous talent and done well with one lone game where he struggled with Clowney...