SmashMouth

Now that the 2016 NFL Draft is over and the player procurement phase of the offseason is largely complete, time to analyze where things stand four months before the 2016 season.

In fact, the more you look at the Saints' roster the more you realize the key to the upcoming season isn't the 2016 draft class, but the 2015 draft class.

The Saints will lean heavily on the nine-man group they selected a year ago to carry them back into contention in the NFC. If you include the group of seven college free agents, the Class of 2015 could make up almost a third of the 53-man roster next season.

The defense, in particular, will sink or swim with the sophomore class. Almost half of the defensive depth chart could be made up of players from the 2015 draft class, including projected starters Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha, Bobby Richardson and nickel back Damian Swann.



Then there's forgotten men, P.J. Williams and Davis Tull. For all intents and purposes, you might as well add those two to the 2016 draft class. No one knows what to expect from either of them after redshirting last season on injured reserve. But with the Saints bypassing cornerback and edge rusher in this year's draft, the development of Williams and Tull takes on added importance.

The same could be said for the guard position, where 2015 first-rounder Andrus Peat could factor into the competition. Loomis said Saturday that Peat will get a shot to compete for a starting job at one of the two guard spots.

If Williams, Tull and Peat come through, the absence of a cornerback, edge rusher and guard in the 2015 draft won't be so glaring.

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