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Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

From my Insider acct. Maybe this will help everyone begin to get comfortable with the fact that we WILL move up for at least one player. :D

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Roster needs

Biggest need: Pass rush -- The Saints ranked just 26th in adjusted sack rate last year. Much of the pressure comes from just two players: Junior Galette (10 sacks), who has off-field issues, and Cameron Jordan (7.5 sacks), who will require an expensive extension as he goes into the final year of his rookie contract.

Quiet need: Wide receiver -- With leading 2014 receiver Kenny Stills traded to Miami, the Saints' third receiver is now Nick Toon, who has only 21 catches in three NFL seasons. And unless they re-sign deep-threat veteran Robert Meachem, the only player behind Toon with an NFL catch is Jalen Saunders, a 2014 Jets fourth-rounder who bounced between four different rosters as a rookie.

Predictions from Mr. Triplette:

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Predictions

1. They won't sit still: Just because the Saints have been stockpiling picks this offseason, that doesn't mean they'll use them all. With two first-rounders (Nos. 13 and 31), five picks in the top 78 and nine overall, the Saints are poised to move up if they see a player they like at any point. The team clearly has shown a willingness to be aggressive this offseason, and GM Mickey Loomis has moved up in Round 1 five times since 2003. "It gives you a lot of flexibility," new assistant GM Jeff Ireland said of the abundance of picks. "You can do pretty much anything you want to in the early rounds of the draft."

2. Pass-rusher a priority? Defense will be a priority for New Orleans in this draft. Both Loomis and coach Sean Payton stressed that rebuilding the defense was a big reason why they traded away Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills this offseason. A pass-rusher especially looms as the Saints' top need after they didn't do much to address it in free agency. However, the top four edge rushers (Dante Fowler Jr., Shane Ray, Vic Beasley and Randy Gregory) may all be gone before the Saints pick at No. 13.

3. No QB in Round 1, but maybe a WR: Payton flatly rejected the notion the Saints might trade up for QB Marcus Mariota in Round 1: "Won't happen," he said. At some point, the Saints may draft a successor for 36-year-old Drew Brees, but Payton and Loomis said they won't force it. I think it's more likely the Saints make a "splash" move with a receiver early. Payton said WR is a higher priority after the trades, and the Saints like the depth in this year's class.

--Mike Triplett, NFL Nation Saints reporter

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

Can't say I disagree all that much with Tripplett but I'm hoping the Saints use 13 for an offensive lineman and 31 for a linebacker

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

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Originally Posted by RaginCajun83 (Post 649825)

Can't say I disagree all that much with Tripplett but I'm hoping the Saints use 13 for an offensive lineman and 31 for a linebacker

Totally agree. The addition of Spencer gives us the leverage to not have to draft an OLB/DE this year. If one falls to us we would love the flexibility but I too see the greater need being to solidify our interior o-line at LG. Sherff or Collins could do just that and improve our run and pass game in one move. I'd love to see us land Kendricks from UCLA at 31 if he lasts. If not Denzel Perryman in the 2nd. His coverage ability scares me more though and I think his ceiling is about the same as Curtis Lofton was which isn't a bad thing in the end.

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

I want Perryman in the 1st, if you watch an entire game and not just the highlights he reminds me of Ray Lewis with a mix of Vaughn Johnson

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

The only way to move up from 13 is to get a #1 ranked position player. Moving up to high is going to cost to much but these I think are more likely.
- #7 to get WR Cooper?
- #10 to get CB Waynes.

Staying at #13 Dupree looks like will land in our lap.

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

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Originally Posted by Euphoria (Post 649828)

Staying at #13 Dupree looks like will land in our lap.

Dupree @ #13 and McKinney @ #31... Our linebacker core just became a strength instead of a weakness

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UCLA inside linebacker Eric Kendricks. Visiting Monday
UCLA defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa. Visiting Tuesday
Nebraska edge rusher Randy Gregory
Oregon tackle Jake Fisher
Louisville receiver DeVante Parker
Miami (Fla.) receiver Phillip Dorsett
Pittsburgh offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings
Virginia defensive end Eli Harold
Utah cornerback Eric Rowe
Chattanooga outside linebacker Davis Tull

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Other players who aren't necessarily coming to New Orleans, but who the Saints have taken a look at are: TCU linebacker Paul Dawson; Florida State offensive linemen Chaz Green and cornerback Ronald Darby; South Carolina offensive lineman A.J. Cann; Miami (Fla.) tight end Clive Walford and linebacker Denzel Perryman; Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley and linebacker Stephone Anthony; and Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson.

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

I just remembered Kasim Edebali

Maybe he's the edge rusher we needed?

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

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Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 (Post 649839)

I just remembered Kasim Edebali

Maybe he's the edge rusher we needed?

IMO he played with more heart and passion than Gallette last season, why not give him a shot?

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

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Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 (Post 649839)

I just remembered Kasim Edebali

Maybe he's the edge rusher we needed?

I'm looking forward to seeing Ediboli with last season behind him. I think he grows by leaps and bounds this season. I'm more worried about a NT and ILB with the ILB being a thumper type to help that gapping hole we had in the middle last season and a NT that don't give an inch.

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

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Originally Posted by halloween 65 (Post 649843)

I totally agree. NT and ILB are more important this year than any other defensive position.

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

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Originally Posted by RaginCajun83 (Post 649827)

I want Perryman in the 1st, if you watch an entire game and not just the highlights he reminds me of Ray Lewis with a mix of Vaughn Johnson

I like Perryman, but I wouldn't spend higher than the 51st pick on him...

He's got the intangibles, but physically he's limited and more comparable to a young David Hawthorne...

Hawthorne was a solid linebacker his first few years, but age and injury caught up to him early...

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

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Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II (Post 649845)

I totally agree. NT and ILB are more important this year than any other defensive position.

I agree but i am still beating the drum for CB and OL also

for once i would love to see the saints finish what they have started when they are so close to completing a rebuild.

it is like calling an engine complete when 5 of 6 cylinders are done.

i will scream if we have a zillion safeties on opening day yet again. 3 so so safety do not make a back up. :brood:

we do not have enough picks to fix this roster and one years worth of draftees will not do it. i pray when all of this is over the saints are able to push some picks into the 2016 draft. a surplus like this is rare. hate to shoot the wade all at once.

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

Offenses AND defenses are build from the middle > out.

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

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Originally Posted by RaginCajun83 (Post 649827)

I want Perryman in the 1st, if you watch an entire game and not just the highlights he reminds me of Ray Lewis with a mix of Vaughn Johnson

Thats who I want also, trading back we could have him and McKinney. Instant strenghth at the lb.'er position as a whole. I still want two 2nd round picks and use 1 of those on a NT.

Re: Draft Needs & Targets for Saints

#1: Edebali's ceiling is only so high... He went undrafted for a reason. All of the positive traits we point out about Edebali are the same things we said about Galette years ago... But now we know Galette is a situational pass rusher who doesn't do much in run support.

#2: Triplett nailed it saying we would trade up for Cooks last year. I'm looking forward to hearing his final guess before the draft.