Rating: (0 votes - average)

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints didn't make much of a splash on the final day of the draft Saturday. No big-name players. No quarterbacks. Probably no one that will come in and compete for a starting job right away.

But by my count, the Saints did wind up addressing five of their top six needs in this year’s draft class. Not bad.

Here’s how I had them ranked heading into the draft:

1. Receiver: Check. The Saints traded up to snag dynamic Oregon State receiver Brandin Cooks in Round 1. I obviously loved the pick, based on my previous recaps.

2. Cornerback: Check. They drafted a big, long-armed corner in Nebraska’s Stanley Jean-Baptiste in Round 2.

3. Center/guard: Nope. That’s the one spot the Saints missed out on. Coach Sean Payton said it wasn’t a deep class for centers, and the grades just never matched up. The Saints are high on Tim Lelito's potential, though, and there’s still a strong chance they’ll bring in veteran Jonathan Goodwin for competition.

4. Outside linebacker: Check. They drafted Florida’s Ronald Powell in Round 5. He's not purely a pass-rush specialist, but that’s one of his skills. And Payton said they envision him as a strong-side outside linebacker to start with (Parys Haralson's current job). Powell is a tremendous athlete who was rated as the No. 1 high school player in America by ESPNU four years ago before battling some inconsistency and a torn ACL in 2012. His upside is intriguing.

5. Inside linebacker: Check. Cal’s Khairi Fortt in Round 4. Payton said the Saints envision him as a weakside inside linebacker (David Hawthorne’s current role). He’s another guy who is still more potential than production after missing the 2012 season because of knee surgery (not an ACL, and not expected to be a lingering issue). But he's another impressive athlete who can help on defense and special teams.

6. Offensive tackle: Check. Kansas State right tackle Tavon Rooks (Round 6) wasn’t high among scouting analysts heading into the draft. But the Saints liked what they saw from his athleticism and his potential to grow into his frame. He'll be battling backups such as Bryce Harris and Marcel Jones for a roster spot.

BONUS: I didn’t rank special teams coverage as an individual category. But the Saints got a nice boost in that area with all four of their defensive draft picks -- especially Alabama safety Vinnie Sunseri in the fifth round. Sunseri is a strong-safety type who could also potentially see the field in a role similar to former Saints/Alabama safety Roman Harper as a blitzer and in run support.

New Orleans Saints filled most of their needs in 2014 NFL draft - ESPN

Rugby Saint II

But no center..........aarrghhhh!

jeanpierre

Stay Calm & Chill on the Saints Center...

If Payton were worried about Center, he'd had Mickey sign one...

Second, while Weston Richburg is a great talent, some solace in this draft for me was that we didn't overspend on one...

The only guy worth taking in the mid-rounds was Russell Bodine and the Bengals jumped up and got him in the fourth, a grade I agreed...

Now Tyler Larsen in the fifth, ideally sixth would have been fine; but he went undrafted and signed elsewhere...

Give Lelito a chance - DLP was serviceable and I suspect Lelito will be better...

More worried about Drew adjusting to his new center; and if Drew doesn't like his pass protection maybe he can have his agent file an injunction from getting sacked...

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

st thomas

i'm giving the organization a b- on the grade, but could move up to an A if batiste has a great camp. powell may be diamond in ruff. rooks has to beat out back ups to make team. sunseri could be special if hes smart like they say. cook, what can u say, hes a gazelle with 2 legs. we get our prolific offense back in my opinion. the only disappointment I had in the draft was the draft, NYC, and the time of year. put it back where it was please and let other cities bid on having it. jmo.

thats the fact jack!!!!!

Euphoria

I can't see how one can grade a draft unless its 5 years from now.

Just because they draft these players and assume they are starters or what have you... in the end they still have to end up making the team.

Danno

We have this discussion every year.

Its not a final grade. Its a grade based on who you picked, where you picked them, their potential at the next level, how the fit in your schemes, etc.

Its not a final evaluation on each players NFL history.

Why can't people understand this?

SmashMouth

Lelito's replacement at GVS, Armstrong whom the Saints signed, may be even better.

Euphoria

Well that argument doesn't help... because then the real true grade would be an INCOMPLETE because the players haven't even made the team yet.

saintfan

It's not an argument but an explanation of the difference between our grade on the teams Draft versus grading the results on the field at some later time.

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QBREES9

Just wait and see.