Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Indianapolis – Draft prospects are smart enough to know that it’s wise to say they want to play for any team that’s suggested as a hypothetical destination during media inquiries at the NFL Combine. So Tulane receiver Ryan Grant and LSU receiver Odell Beckham Jr. were quick to say that, indeed, they’d relish playing for the New Orleans Saints.

But it actually might be a preferable destination for each, if the scenario were to play out that either could pursue a pro career in New Orleans.

For Grant, it’d allow him to stay in the city and play for the team he watched for four years at Tulane. And the transition for him might be easier than it would be for most; his Tulane coach, Curtis Johnson, was a Saints assistant under Coach Sean Payton and Johnson installed a scaled-down version of New Orleans’ offense at Tulane.

“I love their offense,” Grant said. “I’m familiar with a few of their coaches so I wouldn’t mind staying in New Orleans and playing for the Saints.

“It would be easy for me to go in there and just pick up the offense and gel with those guys.”

In Beckham’s case, playing for the Saints would mean coming back home.

The New Orleans native played football at Newman before heading to Baton Rouge to become a star for the Tigers.

“That would be a perfect fit to go there,” Beckham said. “It’d be home, in an offensive system like that, with Drew Brees at quarterback. The way they use their receivers is great to see, guys getting open and Drew Brees spreading the ball around. Obviously, it’s wherever the chips fall (in the draft), you’ve just got to be able to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Each admits his opportunity to play in New Orleans, and anywhere else in the NFL, will be enhanced with a good 40-yard dash time at Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend. It won’t be the determining factor, because each stacked his resume – Grant caught 70 passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns in his final seasion; Beckham had 59 receptions for 1,152 yards and eight touchdowns last year.

But it won’t hurt, either. New Orleans Saints

“I’ve been working on my 40 pretty hard,” Grant said. “I’m hoping to run a good time for the scouts. But I’ve also been working on the routes they’re going to be running. I want to look smooth and fundamentally sound on the routes.”

Said Beckham: “I’m looking forward to running a fast 40. I definitely think that that’ll help.”

Also looking to help himself, but via the interview process, will be LSU running back Jeremy Hill.

Hill, who ran for 1,401 yards last season, has had a couple of off-field incidents in the past, including his guilty plea to misdemeanor battery stemming from an incident outside a bar in April 2013.

“It’s a business at this point,” Hill said. “These owners and GMs are investing a lot of money into you, so I think it’s best for you to just to be open and honest, give them the information they need. You don’t have very much time so you have to let them get to know you as much as possible in a small amount of time, (and) the best way to do that is to be open and honest.

“They’ve done their homework, they already know what’s going on. It’s just up to me to be honest about it and let them know, be forthcoming, and let them know everything that happened and everything else will take care of itself after that.

“I don’t think it’s unfair (for the past to be a consideration). I put myself in that situation. But I’m not really focusing on those things. I’m just moving forward and doing the right things from here on out.”

Hill said he doesn’t know how the incidents will affect his draft status.

“No one knows,” he said. “I’m going into draft day with nothing expected, and just being blessed and honored if any team takes me. I don’t really have any high expectations, I’m just going in there doing everything I’m supposed to do and trying to make it as tough as possible for those GMs and coaches.”

John DeShazier: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Good WR (Odell B) but also an exceptional special teams player. Instant threat when he touches the ball.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

I'd rather have Jarvis Landry.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

I would be very happy with either WR. Jeremy Hill is a very talented player but he is a thug. I don't know if he has matured enough that I would want him on this team.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

agreed may not have all the flash but looks to be a solid pro at the next level. put him in the weight room and you might have the next Boldin

what the heck draft all three.

my gut pick tells me that Odell is the saints pick. he just seems to be the type of player he would draft. He fits that Sproles Bush type of image.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

I'd be happy with either, they are both very talented players and we need some fresh legs at the receiver spot

stills showed us how promising rookie receivers can be

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

I wouldn't mind drafting all three LSU players.
They would freshen up a ageing offense and would be cheaper than some on the roster and free up some much needed cap space

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

I get offense sell tickets but I want some serious effort made on defense.
Not saying they haven't done this but I"d like to see a bigger name come in. I just can't stop thinking about Seattle and thier year. I don't see an offensive powerhouse. I see a defensive dominate team that lets the offense stay in the game.
Just me I dunno...

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

We need players on both sides of the ball but that offense just didnt look itself last year.Maybe it was the issues on the line but the offense as a hole is ageing together and there have been some health issues with some of the players too. There are alot of 30 year olds on the roster than could go get old over night very quickly.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Odell Beckham was better then Landry. Landry isn't being considered a 1st rounder for a reason. Not to say he isn't great, he just isn't better then Beckham.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

But then is the difference between signing a CB/S in the first and Landry in the second as big as Beckham in the first and a 2nd round CB/S.
My guess is the drop off is bigger in the later.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

I don't really like the idea of going DB in the 1st. If a big time safety is there, okay..but I'd prefer some more pass rushers or an athletic MLB. Corner is deep in free agency, and if you strike early in free agency there's some really quality guys at safety too. Jairus Byrd? Louis Delmas? There's proven commodities to be had.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

There isnt a player in FA I would love to sign more than Byrd but he wants big money and I just can't see it happening. The Browns are after him and have loads of free cap space to pay him with.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

If the Browns get him maybe they let TJ Ward walk. Still a major upgrade. We move Kenny to FS, let Ward run SS, and we're set.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

I prefer Landry but both are great options. The reason why Beckham is rated higher in some publications is because Landry lacks top end speed. He's not as quick as Beckham. Other than that, Landry tops Beckham in every other way.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Idk papz. My boy Landry has good size, and he'll go up and get it...but Beckham will too even though he's smaller. I just keep thinking about that one handed catch he made on the sideline in the most recent bowl game. That kid is special. He might be the next Steve Smith.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

[QUOTE=rezburna;578996He might be the next Steve Smith.[/QUOTE]

I hate him already.
He is called Beckham (cant stand the soccer player) and he maybe like Smith.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Currently Beckham is ranked the 27th best prospect.

NFL Draft - 2014 NFL Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Hmmm, 27th huh?

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

I thought Landry was a little taller, but they are both the same size. Landry has more mass on him though.


One of the best catches I've ever seen live.


I thought this was the sickest moment of Beckham's season. My jaw dropped.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Beckham: 59 recs, 1152 yards, 8 TDs
Landry: 77 recs, 1193 yards, 10 TDs

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Ball skills you just can't teach.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

To early to tell.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

I think it has more to do with the depth of this years draft. Talent wise he is a 1st rounder. Beckham just has the home run potential everytime he touches the ball. He can also contribute on special teams and can be pretty dynamic on PR. Landry is going to be a solid pro regardless of where he is drafted.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Slightly going off point for a second but why can't you stand david beckham?

For all he has done for soccer and for the UK I think the guy is awesome and gets alot of unwarranted hate

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Im a Liverpool fan and his talent is vastly overrated.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Okay thats fair enough, I think he let his soccer career go on way longer than it should have done but as a person I've always thought he seemed genuine

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

A speedy play-making line backer will do a lot for Rob Ryan's D. If WR is so deep then pick in the 2nd. Or 3rd.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

The problem with all this is that he won't be on the board when we pick.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

So... if he bit someone, you'd feel better about him?

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

I'll have to go with yes.

I wasn't impressed with that and honestly never thought he would play for us again.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Odell will be the better pro IMO.That being said, Id still draft Kelvin Benjamin before either one of them.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Odell Beckham just ran a 4.31 40 yard dash. Unofficial time but thats plenty fast.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Top 20 pick now. Forget about picking him at 27.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Landry ran 4,65. Didn't run second time because of injury. (pulled calf after first run)

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Didn't somebody say Odell doesn't have elite top end speed? Lmao. Cbs was it?

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Disappointing time for Landry. I feel bad for him.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

On the plus side he may fall to the end of the second

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

He can only do improve at his pro day. Going into the combine, he was projected as a day 2 pick. Still a steal @ Rd2 for any team.

Re: Saints 'would be a perfect fit,' Odell Beckham Jr. says
 

He ran a 4.7

For the record, Jerry Rice ran a 4.7
So does Anquan Boldin.

I think speed is the most overrated quality in a WR. It can help, sure, but it isn't a necessity. Landry will be a fine pro because he is very advanced in the technical parts of the game. (route running, blocking, catching, etc)