I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

Still wish we went OG instead of RB late as UDFA RBs seem to fall off trees for us. Other than that I am pumped. The Safety seemed especially versatile. Hope I'm right. We ***** about Brees contract but Byrd has had one, ONE forced turnover since we signed him at 46 mil. Maybe with help up front he can do his job

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

I love this draft.

Best DT
Best FS
One of the best "big" WR.
Best player in Canada and physical freak of nature
Cal's MVP, even over Goff. Injury plagued 2015 dropped him several rounds. Was still projected as a 4th

UDFA... we addressed OG with 4 or 5 prospects that had mid round grades.

Dayum I love this draft!!!

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

You can add PJ Williams and Davis Tull to this class as well, they essentially will be rookies.

Should be an interesting training camp and pre-season.

We need to pay more attention to pre-season games, over the last 4 years they have been very indicative of how the team performs. Brees also needs to play the normal snaps.

2013 preseason- Defense came out hot and surprised many people
2013 season- Defense ranked number 4.

2014/2015 preseason- Defense sucked in the preseason lacked passion and energy. Offense was inconsistent because Brees was very limited.
2014/2015 season- Defense ranked last or next to last. Offense took mulitiple games to start firing on all cylinders.

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

Not entirely correct on the preseason front.

I travelled from the UK to the Saints vs Patriots preseason game and we completely shut down Tom Brady with aggressive play from the cornerbacks

I'm pretty sure he finished 1 for 5, 6 yards passing.
In 2012 we intercepted the Cardinals on their very first play from scrimmage and shut them down the whole game, we all know how 2012 played out defensively.

Preseason can be misleading, in 2013 Keenan Lewis had a terrible....I mean TERRIBLE preseason and many were calling for his head, then he locked down receivers all year.

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

I am still waiting for another happy finish... one was not enough! :bng:

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

This draft has Ireland's finger prints all over it. He seems to have "the eye for defense" that Payton has for offense. We also nailed this UDFA class. As usual.

Who knows we may even have some decent depth if a starter goes down?

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

Way too early. Even for last years draft class. 3-4 years down the road we'll see how good or bad this draft class is. Key factor: coaching.

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

Agree with everything except key factor being coaching.

I think coaching at the NFL level is fairly even from top to bottom.

I think 90% of NFL success is talent, work ethic, attitude, durability, IQ, etc...

I'd say maybe 10% of a players success or failure is due to coaching.

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

Seriously? Bruce Arians vs Chuck Pagano, Sean Payton vs Mike Smith...

Why do some players thrive with some coaches, tank with a new coach, sign a FA contract with old coach and have comeback player of the year type seasons?!?

Coaches have every bit to do with the success of a team as a player taking care of his health, having a good work ethic and keeping a positive mental attitude...

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

This draft isn't even close to last year's draft...but it takes a couple of years to really let things shake out...

Too much trading up with talent still in the field at need positions...

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

Seriously.

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

I agree about coaching. Only way backups become stars. Without it the best players out there can do nothing. Buying into a system means alot. Selling one does to.And having a team of good coaches is key. We drafted well enough, addressed the D front with 2 picks( i think both can be nasty) got a S for the backfield and added a veteran ILB in FA to call plays. And the IR guys coming back. Now with this (paper) we see how these coaches do. Might get interesting?

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

When we see the IR list going into the season.

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

I just don't see drafting a position just for drafting a position...

If you have players rated that are higher even if they are a RB you take the RB over the guard.

A interesting to point is that there were OG's rated has high by some in the 4th round and 32 teams past on them not once but 3 plus times and we got them as UDFA. So either they were right and so were we for not drafting them and just getting them as UDFA.

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

You just gave a perfect example of the economic principle of supply and demand. Why pay a certain price for a commodity that is abundant when you can spend the same amount on a different commodity that you may not need as badly, but is much harder to find? You can always pick up an example of the more abundant commodity later for a lessor price.

While the Saints may have had guard at a high priority, the combination of the abundance of guards available and the overall lack of demand across the rest of the league gave them the opportunity to get what they needed at a far lower risk.

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

So, by that rationale, why did we take an interior defensive tackle in the first when we could have taken a WR like Treadwell or Doctson in the first, taken Jarran Reed in the second round, or just taken Vonn Bell in the second (limited Safeties and apparently we have greater need than realized) and taken a interior lineman in the third round?

Some fine interior linemen were still available as late as the fifth round...

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

Coaching has a bigger effect in the NFL than other sports. NBA not so much with teams with divas.

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

For fun I went back and found what the consensus was on our 2006 draft. Its pretty funny. Read the responses. Just proves that we are all on this forum and not with a football organization for a reason. (I'm looking at you Hagan..LOL)

http://blackandgold.com/saints/12598...valuation.html

Re: I think we had a good one finally. Maybe even on par with last year
 

Obviously his individual grade in their minds made him worth it. He was certainly worth more to them than all three that you mentioned. I wasn't there, of course, when they spent who knows how many hours and days compiling their list. I'll bet his upbringing and willingness to work played a major factor. The kid appears to have his priorities straight. He's the type of player that could make others around him better just by example.