Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

I know, I know......NFL Draft grades less than a week after the draft are like power rankings before Free Agency starts, but it is fun to write and it's the offseason so there is nothing else to do. Check out my blog on the draft and tell me what you think.

https://obnoxiouswhodat.wordpress.co...s-draft-grade/

And, thanks for helping get views. This is the main site I am getting views from. You guys are AWESOME!

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

They gave our 7th rounder a B ? Interesting...

I'll be very intrigued to see what these young guys do in training camp.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

Apparently the only thing that kept him from going higher was a knee injury that lingered in his final season.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

Gotcha Diz.

My "rookie to watch" will be Vonn Bell. His college coaches have been raving about how good his instincts and ball skills are.

Could be special down the road ...

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

right now i give it C

Saints appear to have missed drafting a corner stone for the defense IMO. sloppy use of draft picks this year that will effect next years draft. which should be pretty good especially at DE.

My rating all rest on Bell. What we paid for because of the pick was pretty step by drafts end.

talk to me in 3 years when it is time to start resign this group

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

I like the picks, not a Buckeye fan, but both those kids will be solid players.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

I'm feeling optimistic about the draft and give it a B-. Throw in the UDFA's and I'll give it a B+. I only wish we had signed a top tier guard but we may have addressed it with Turner or Young. Personally, I like Avery Young for one of the guard spots.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

I wouldve preferred that we went all Defense with our draft - kind of like what the jaguars did. We only had 5 or 6 picks and we wasted the last 2 IMO on a toy and project. Grade: D

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Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

A toy,we have one reciever over 6ft. We needed a redzone target to replace Colston and Coleman has proven nothing

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

I don't see how anyone can give this 2016 NFL Draft anything but an A or at worst a B-plus

1. Potential (talent) of players selected - A
Very little bust potential and all have high ceilings.

2. Character of players selected - A
All seem to be very high character guys.

3. Work ethic of players selected - A
All seem to be team players and very hard workers. No lazy downside to any of them

4. How well the players fit our scheme? - A

Disruptive DT that can play 4-3 DT or 3-4 DE
WR that replaces Colston (on paper of course)
FS that can also play Nickel and dime CB
A late round DE prospect with 1st round measurables
A 7th round RB that would have been one of the top 3 or 4 3rd down backs in the draft if not for a 2015 injury.

5. Did we reach for anybody? No. not one.

6. Do all the players address a need (holes and depth) ? Yes, absolutely especially if you include the UDFA's.

7. How well did we maneuver during the draft - C
I would have liked to have traded down for more picks in a deep draft, but it appears everyone wanted to trade down and there were very few takers

8. UDFA haul? A-plus. I think our reputation for giving UDFA's a fair shot at a roster spot is exactly why we landed so many top UDFA's, in my opinion. Thats 2 years in a row we aced the UDFA market.

Obviously no one knows for sure until 2 or 3 years down the road, but based on what we all know right now, this draft class is a solid A.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

I like our draft. Every pick addresses a need. WE needed a DT/NT and we got the Highest Rated one. We needed another Safety and we got a Safety with CB skills. We all could see the team lacked the necessary size in the red zone, now we have a 6'3 receiver who has hands to high point balls.
What is there not to like?

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

The more I watch highlights the more excited I get, especially from Vonn Bell who I truly believe will replace Jairus Byrd.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

And don't forget Daniel Lasco who was voted one of the five draft bargains along with Bell in the NFC South:

Five best 2016 NFL Draft bargain picks: NFC South - NFL.com

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

The Lasco thing didn't make a lot of sense to me. You have a lot of money committed to Spiller and Ingram, with Spiller coming off an injury plagued season, and now you draft a RB coming off a hip injury. Just didn't seem necessary. But for a 7th rounder, I can't really call it a risk. Just not what I would have done. Has a chance to maybe be of value down the road, so we shall see.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

I saw something in this draft that many didn't see outside of the first and perhaps second pick. They were drafting insurances that can also fill holes if healthy. Lasco is possible injury insurance to Ingram or Spiller and possibly a way to replace Ingram down the road when it comes to managing the cap. Spiller hasn't shown to stay healthy so far and that needs to change or else Lasco takes his place. Lasco could be a major special teams guy.

If there is a injury in our secondary again, Bell fills a need. If there is a injury with our starting DTs or DEs, Onyematta fills a need. Thomas was drafted to be perhaps a starter if Coleman does not show up in camp and pre-season. Also, given the injuries I believe Thomas is possibly a injury or poor performance replacement. If Cooks were to go down, move Coleman to Cooks' role and Thomas to Coleman's. If Snead goes down, same situation, except Coleman to Snead's side. If Coleman goes down, it's obvious where Thomas goes. Or maybe Thomas is the starter and Coleman is best reserved as a backup.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

Spiller signed a 2 year deal. The best teams don't wait until they need a replacement to find one. With depth at RB, we don't have to worry about it going forward. All of our picks have been towards getting deeper at positions.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

Bingo!! This draft is about having enough bodies to replace players that either get hurt or ineffective.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

Here are the grades for last year among us draft experts. LOL!
http://blackandgold.com/saints/72282...s-draft-3.html
Some hits and misses.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

Round 1 (Pick 12): Sheldon Rankins, DT

B+

This was the safe pick. We filled a need with the highest rated player at his position. He's an instant starter, and combining his pass rush ability with Nick Fairley's in the middle of our defense could get us the push we need to finally start pressing the QB.

Round 2 (Pick 47): Michael Thomas, WR

A-

My initial reaction was disgust. After thinking it over for 10 minutes, I fell in love with this selection and I think it was our best pick. Again, we filled a need. Brees needs weapons. Although our offense was 2nd in the NFL, we stalled in moments we would once shine in. Again, I believe he's an instant starter and could have the same impact Marques Colston had in his rookie year, especially having a QB like Drew Brees. He never played with a QB remotely close to the talent level and style of Brees.

Round 2 (Pick 61): Von Bell, FS

B+

This was another "WTF" moment for me. It seems like the league is about to make a shift to the Cardinals style of defense after the success of Deone Buchanon. I foresee the Saints playing both Vacarro and Bell closer to the line in similar roles to Buchanon. Also, if Bell is successful we can cut ties with Byrd and his huge contract that he hasn't earned.

Round 4 (Pick 120): David Onyemata, DE/DT

C

This was a good project pick. There were some other people on the board I would have preferred, and unlike the previous 3 picks, I don't see this guy becoming an immediate starter on the defensive line. However, it's not all about his lack of talent, but more so because I feel like our defensively is drastically improved in the middle.

Round 7 (Pick 237): Daniel Lasco, RB

B-

If not for the log jam at RB I would have given this pick an A+. I truly believe this kid is going to make CJ Spiller and maybe even Mark Ingram very expendable.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

I hope so seeing where he was drafted. It not like he is some 7th rounder or project guy. They expect him to play.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

I know what you are saying, but drafting a RB coming off injury, as insurance, is what makes no sense to me. Also, you can do just as well with UDFA's once you've gotten that deep in the draft.

Like I said, not a risky pick considering where they took him, but I just wouldn't have gone that direction.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

Rather not grade this draft just yet, but not impressed with most of the selections nor the moves made during the draft...

But you've got to allow a couple of seasons before assigning a grade...

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

He signed a 4 year deal, buddy. And he's making a lot of money for a backup. You can find insurance in many other ways. We all know this isn't a team that places a premium on the RB, when it comes to play calling, even though they pay these guys like they can't live without them.

Also, I don't agree that this draft was about getting deeper. They just pick who they want on their board. Whether or not I, or anyone agrees with every pick, that's all there is to it. You don't trade up TWICE, including taking a chance on a guy who's only known what a football looks like for 5 years, if you are attempting to get deeper at all positions. Clearly, they had other ideas.

The Saints didn't need to get deeper at RB. You're forgetting about Murphy, who's only reason for not getting touches last year would seem to be a lack of playbook knowledge. Because he certainly has the speed and the moves.

Guard was one of the two most glaring needs and they didn't pick even one. So... That's not getting deeper. They waited to sign rookie free agents instead.

Re: Grading the Saints NFL Draft
 

I don't get all the shuffling they did either. I agree 100% about G needing to be a priority. They did address the Dfront line( although there were players getting passed on I wanted to throw the TV off the back deck). I do have to say they did get some good players though. We might have got lucky with the UDFA but luck will only go so far. And I think the reason we try to sign so many UDFA is Brees getting paid a ton of money.