LordOfEntropy

Here's a snippet from a decent article posted three days ago:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team?statsId=18&

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The Saints want to re-sign cornerback Jason Craft, but he could draw some interest on the open market. He's best suited as a third corner in nickel situations, but he played well enough late last season to merit a chance to start. If a team gives him starter money he's likely gone. That would force the Saints to bring in another corner, either through free agency or, more likely, the draft. Depth behind starters Fakhir Brown and Mike McKenzie is questionable. Ashley Ambrose is 34 and coming off a knee injury. Fred Thomas had a terrible 2005 season and can't be counted on to return to his prior form. . . .


Defensive lineman Tony Bryant is another valuable role player the Saints want back but might lose. Bryant is capable of playing both end and tackle and gave the Saints valuable minutes down the stretch in their four-end alignment on passing downs. He's not much of a pass rusher, but at 6-6 he disrupts interior passing lanes. He's no better than the third or fourth end in New Orleans, so he might opt for more playing time elsewhere. . . .


Bryant's re-signing becomes more important if the Saints elect to trade franchise free agent Darren Howard. If they keep him, they'd have more than $10.4 million in salary cap money devoted to defensive ends. Charles Grant and Will Smith, a pair of former first-round draft picks, will count $1.3 million each against the cap. However, they might be willing to trade him for the right offer of a high draft pick or player. Smith and Grant are quality players, but there's little depth behind the pair if Bryant signs elsewhere. Veteran lineman Willie Whitehead can play end but is best suited to play inside at this stage of his career. The odds of moving Howard are 50-50. The Saints want adequate compensation for a pass rusher of his caliber in his prime

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ACTION PLAN: The Saints don't have a lot of cap room available, so they'll probably employ the same strategy they used a year ago in free agency. They'll target a few selected veterans and try to lock them up early. Victor Riley's absence would create an immediate need at right tackle. Veteran reserve Spencer Folau isn't the same player he was before knee surgery last year and is no longer seen as a viable starting candidate. The Saints would be forced to look at the open market for help. Players with starting experience such as Jonas Jennings, Kareem McKenzie, Oliver Ross and Floyd Womack will be the first considered. The Saints plan to re-emphasize the running game under new offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard, so look for the Saints to find a mauler on the right side. Coach Jim Haslett wants tough players with nasty temperaments and won't settle for a finesse player at this spot. . . .


A free safety with ball skills is also high on the priority list. Jay Bellamy is an unrestricted free agent and, at 32, is on the downside of his career. Free safety Tebucky Jones has been a disappointment. The Saints want an upgrade here. The defense evolved into primarily a bump-and-run coverage team at the end of the season and needs a veteran ball hawk with range to patrol centerfield. Unfortunately, there are few of those players available. Baltimore restricted free agent Will Demps is an ideal candidate, but he'll be difficult to pry away from the Ravens. Pittsburgh's Chris Hope is also a possibility. He played for new defensive backs coach Willy Robinson. . . .


If the Saints can land a free safety and right tackle, they'll consider free agency a success. It would allow them to be flexible in the April draft, where they have the No. 16 pick in the first round. At that spot, they could afford to take the best player available, likely a defensive player, either a linebacker or cornerback. . . .


The Saints would like to re-sign strong safety Jay Bellamy, special teams ace Steve Gleason, reserve cornerback Jason Craft, reserve defensive lineman Tony Bryant. Although they want each of them, none of the group is considered irreplaceable.

JKool

Sounds good to me... but...

I think we need to move Howard or someone and get a proven stud LB in here and now.

I will consider FA a success if we get an LB (either SLB or MLB) AND an OT. I just think Safety is much less of a concern than LB than they made it seem here. Furthermore, is our pass defense (especially a ball skilled Safety) really that important when the other team can just run the ball on us?

I really wish Mitchell had proven himself last year. That would give us a good option at Safety and allow us to focus on our real need, LB.

[Edited on 24/2/2005 by JKool]

"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks

LordOfEntropy

I think of trade of Howard is not only necessary, but likely. His cap is just too big, and Smith is ready to start.

So.. we trade him for
A) draft pick(s)
B) another player(s)
C) a combination of the two

How is the end situation in Cleveland? I\'ve seen them taking Johnson in the draft an a lot of boards. Think they\'d trade down if we packaged Howard over to them?

JKool

An interesting suggestion LOE.

Do you think we can get a move up to CLE\'s spot (from ours) and a second or third rounder for Howard (maybe I\'m just being greedy)?

LordOfEntropy

Dunno. I don\'t know if they have a need for Howard over there, haven\'t really kept up with the Browns. Not to mention all the changes that are about to happen over there courtesy of Crennel.

If there is a need, I think we might be able to offer them a package they might jump on. They\'re picking 3rd in the draft, and a 16th and Howard likely wouldn\'t be enough for that. It\'s probably take our 2nd as well.

On another note....

If Johnson was to fall past the third pick (though I find this unlikely), then perhaps another team would be interested in trading down for Howard.

Howard is definitely trade bait, and we need a stud linebacker.

The possibility has me intrigued.

can anyone help me id this tune? it goes thwap thwap boom tch boom tch boom tch.

Qui a laissez sortir les chiens!

JKool

That sounds about right to me. I was probably being greedy. Damn.

LKelley67

i\'d take their 2nd, #33 for howard happily. that will get a crowder-thurman-burnett level lb.

FireVenturi

I think the highest we could move up would be to package Howard and our 16th to move to the 6-8 range

LordOfEntropy

When we took Howard, we got him with the 33rd pick that year... that\'d be fitting.

BlackandBlue

Cleveland needs a QB. If either Smith or Rodgers is there, forget about it.

Not so fast. Look through the top 12 teams and see exactly how many have linebacker high on their list of needs. Cleveland is a possibility, but I doubt it because one of the safest bets will be Miami taking a running back with the 2nd overall pick, which would result in at least one of the top two QB\'s falling to them. Rodgers would need to have a poor showing in camps in order to slip past the Browns.