Ranking Saints needs: No. 10 Interior d-line
 

(Triplett)

Current depth chart:

Akiem Hicks. Age 24, signed through 2015. 2014 salary and bonuses: $582,500. 2014 salary-cap number: $718,225.

Brodrick Bunkley. Age 30, signed through 2016. 2014 salary and bonuses: $4.5 million. 2014 salary-cap number: $6.1 million.

John Jenkins. Age 24, signed through 2016. 2014 salary and bonuses: $515,000. 2014 salary-cap number: $656,890.

Tom Johnson. Age 29, restricted free agent.

Glenn Foster. Age 23, scheduled to become restricted free agent in 2016. 2014 salary and bonuses: $495,000. 2014 salary-cap number: $497,333.

Tyrunn Walker. Age 23, scheduled to become restricted free agent in 2015. 2014 salary and bonuses: $570,000. 2014 salary-cap number: $571,000.

Kenyon Coleman. Age 34, unrestricted free agent.

Analysis:

Since the Saints run a hybrid between a 3-4 and 4-3, I decided to label the guys up front as either interior linemen or edge rushers. And I think this particular group is in good shape going forward.

Bunkley’s future is uncertain since he’s due to make so much money and since he shares time at the nose tackle spot with promising 2013 rookie Jenkins. Based on my weekly film studies, I believe Bunkley was playing better down the stretch of this past season than any other point in his two years with the Saints. He’s a very strong and stout run defender. But I think it would take a pay cut to keep him in New Orleans.

Even if Bunkley leaves, I think this position is in good shape. Hicks is an outstanding young talent, with a great combination of power and athleticism. He could be playing at a Pro Bowl level sooner than later. And you can pencil in Hicks and Jenkins as starters (in a 3-4 or 4-3).

Foster and Walker are solid young backups with a potential to be even better as they continue to develop. Johnson is also a reliable backup if the Saints decide to bring him back as a restricted free agent. And they could add a veteran backup at an affordable price if needed -- perhaps bringing back Coleman, who missed all of last season on injured reserve.

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Ranking Saints needs: No. 10 Interior d-line - New Orleans Saints Blog - ESPN

Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 10 Interior d-line
 

I could see letting go of Johnson and Coleman. Bunkley should stay for another year. The rest should be kept, now with that said I would like to draft a stud DT in the first and let Walker and Foster battle it out in camp for 1 position. That leaves 5 positions but I didn't see Jordan listed which would make 6. I believe if we went this way in a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment we would have by far the best front line in the NFL.

Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 10 Interior d-line
 

Thank god we finally have fixed this position. I've been waiting all of my life.

Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 10 Interior d-line
 

Bunkley is a really good DT but no way we keep him at that price. That's more than Thomas and Sproles combined.

Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 10 Interior d-line
 

That is a good interior D-line. Bunkley is a little pricey but I believe that he is here for one more year.

Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 10 Interior d-line
 

need to draft depth for the DL. DE/OLB, DE/DT or a NT.

OLB/DE high on the list of needs

to many project NT late in this draft not to take a long look at to develope

Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 10 Interior d-line
 

La'Roi Glover, Norman Hand, Joe Johnson and Darren Howard were pretty good.

Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 10 Interior d-line
 

So were Frank Warren, Robert Goff, Wayne Martin, Joel Smeenge, and Jim Wilks. But I think ff means it quite some time. : )

Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 10 Interior d-line
 

lol

Point made.

Re: Ranking Saints needs: No. 10 Interior d-line
 

Smeenge, Goff, Hand... Please. The others plenty good but over 47 years? We only had 1 that could play and the rest were average at best with one behind them. Except for the Dome Patrol years, we could get a little banged up and that was it. Even then did the NT position ever dominate?

Now it seems all of the NTs tend to play extremely well with decent LBs behind them. I kept waiting for teams to gash us but it never really happened. :D

Over 47 years.... it has never happened before. :bandg:

And you forgot Tony Elliott.