TheOak

(Mike Triplett)

The highly-touted wide receiver class lived up the hype this weekend at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. With so many prospects expected to be worthy of first-round grades this year, I could absolutely see the Saints taking a receiver in Round 1 of this year's draft.

As I write every year, I don't think the Saints will lock themselves into any one positional need in the draft -- especially not all the way down at pick No. 27. But I do think the receiver position will rank among their top draft priorities. I think they could use more of a dynamic speed element in the short term. And they'll need to restock the position in the future with longtime veterans like Marques Colston, Lance Moore and Robert Meachem getting older.

That's why I think the draft makes even more sense than free agency for the Saints when it comes to the receiver position.

Even before the combine workouts began, many analysts were talking about this being a deep draft class for wide receiver talent. Then the buzz only grew louder once the prospects went through their drills -- as you can read here in these breakdowns from ESPN's NFL Insider John Clayton and ESPN.com's Jets reporter Rich Cmini.

LSU's Odell Beckham Jr. and Vanderbilt's Jordan Matthews were two prospects, in particular, who reportedly strengthened their case to be drafted in Round 1 with impressive 40-yard dash times, among other drills. If they're too impressive, they might wind up being taken even before the Saints get a crack at them. Nevertheless, the overall depth at a need position is a good thing.

Beckham is a particularly intriguing prospect in New Orleans since he brings that dynamic speed element -- and because Saints fans are so familiar with his work from just down the road in Baton Rouge. Beckham ran the 40 in 4.43 seconds.

LSU's other top receiver prospect Jarvis Landry didn't fare as well this weekend after reportedly pulling a hamstring. The Times-Picayune's Jim Kleinpeter broke down their performances.
A receiver for Saints in Round 1? - New Orleans Saints Blog - ESPN

Attached Thumbnails

 

Seer1

Really? This is our biggest need?

Danno

He said it was one of our top priorities, not our biggest need.

papz

I'm still against it... too deep and too talented. We can wait til the end of the second and land a first round prospect at WR.

Danno

This^^^

K Major

I think you may still find value in the 3rd round with this bunch of college studs.

Euphoria

That dude must be reading my posts...

I still can't believe that anyone things the draft is based on needs. You fill your wholes with FA's. Then you draft and hope your draft picks are able to make the roster. The very worse situation is to have to rely on a draft pick that shouldn't be on the roster... that you have to start him.

Danno

Very true. I cringe when I hear someone suggest we cut a capable starter and just simply draft his replacement.

It rarely works that way.

Seer1

Except with a place kicker! We have more need of a PK than a WR.

Ha! Just scored a double cringe on Danno!

burningmetal

This is partially true. But before any player becomes a free agent he is first a rookie. Sometimes there are no answers in free agency, and you do have to rely on the draft. It's not a sure thing, but it's sometimes the only thing.

And if we didn't need receivers then there would be no reason to draft a receiver. You draft for need, not because it's a guaranteed fix, but because you gotta get talented players in at positions of need and try to develop them.

In this years' case, I can see the Saints drafting just about any position, so it won't surprise me if they take a receiver. It's a not a glaring need, but we could use a legitimate number 1, and there are a ton of guys who have that potential in this class.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.